Librarian Superheroes
10.02.08 By Deanna Dahlsad
American Library Association Barbara Gordon Batgirl Bookmark
Thinking about Banned Book Week has me thinking not just about the books, authors, publishers & history of banned books, but about the real heroes in this censorship battle: librarians.
Every day librarians are the front line in our battle to be free readers, but they also come to our rescue in other ways… Helping a little kid reach a book; assisting a grown adult in finding the right book or research material; keeping libraries stocked & organized so that we can be delighted, educated, inspired; coaching the unfamiliar on how to use the Internet; reading to children, keeping kids entranced long enough for mommy to find something for herself to read; and even shushing obnoxious jerks so that you can read and research in peace.
Librarians are superheroes, you know.
I’m certainly not the first to think of librarians as superheroes. My recollection is that this all started with Batgirl; I could be wrong, but watch this retro test episode for a possible Batgirl TV series.
In any case, there’s a whole plethora of librarian as superhero images collect. Naturally, the American Library Association uses Batgirl to promote libraries, but other libraries and associations have created their own librarian superhero mascots. Penn State’s Eiche Library recently had a contest to name their official 2008 Open House mascot (Sam Wagner won with The Database Ace, a.k.a. Kat A. Log; signature move – The Eiche Strikee).
The New Jersey State Library not only has Super Librarian, but she has her own comic. In fact, there are many comics in which librarians are featured or even the main character. And you’ll find that many comic artists love to draw superhero librarians. So far, my favorite is Jolly Jack’s sketch titled Overdue. (If you’ve paid the fines I have, you’d certainly fear the stamp!)
If you aren’t quite ready to invest dollars or space in collecting librarian superheroes, why not go for digital renderings? LibrarianDressup.com has an online version of a paper doll you can put in caped crusader costumes and then send as postcards.
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Article Tags: banned book week, batgirl, collecting, Comics, librarians, libraries, superheros================
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October 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
I know that after 10 years of doing almost everything you’ve listed above at my library, I sure as hell qualify for superhero-dom. And there’s a librarian action figure – which wouldn’t be made unless we WERE genuine heroes!
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Hmmm, another thought-provoking article. Seems to me I just read something about our VP candidate, Sarah Palin, and her interest in censorship. The librarian stood up to her ‘demands.’ Good for her and all others who contribute to our literary freedoms!
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Collin, I did link to the librarian action figure (click “shushing”) and there’s a male image if you click digital renderings
Val, like you, I cannot stress enough how valiant our librarians are.
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I’m a librarian who’s been forced to scan things too quickly, obviously!
October 4th, 2008 at 9:49 am
[...] And Deanna Dahlsad used a bookmark image to illustrate her tribute to librarians, also over at Colletors’ Quest – Link [...]