#critlib 9/23/2014 - Stereotypes & Instruction

Discussion questions are posted for tomorrow's #critlib chat! We're talking about librarian stereotypes & instruction  http://tinyurl.com/critlibx 

Join #critlib in 10 mins! Follow @pumpedlibrarian for tonight's Q's abt stereotype, status, gender/intersectionality.  http://tinyurl.com/critlibx 

Let the #critlib begin -- let's start with introductions and then we'll get into the questions!

Hi #critlib, I'm yr mod 2night & am research+learning librarian at U of AZ. My co-author (of the article for tonight) is here too @eldefrain

Keep doing intros, but let's get rolling w Q1: Have you experienced negative effects from librarian stereotypes in your teaching? #critlib

#critlib A1: Frequently in one-shots, I have run into many of the stereotypes that you write about in the article - most of them, in fact.

#critlib A1 (cont.): from both faculty and students - but often stereotypes are fostered by the faculty member in question...

A1: When told students I wouldn't be teaching English classes next year bc choosing to be lib*, many seemed uncomfortable/laughed #critlib

A1 …particularly the more macho guys. Seemed clearly tinged with gendered/competence expectations. #critlib

Wow, a spambot just stole my #critlib intro? How should I feel about that?

I'd like to point out, per A1, that the avatar doesn't "look like a librarian." #critlib

@ibeilin good point, PIL and/or ERIAL showed how faculty really help form students' impressions of librarians #critlib

@kellymce maybe that spambot is trying to change librarian stereotypes #critlib

@foureyedsoul Similar experiences for me when I tell my history classes that my main gig/identity is a librarian: disbelief? #critlib

@foureyedsoul ugh that is disappointing #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian But just as often at my school, faculty treat me with respect as equal educator/teacher - many really get it. #critlib

Going to throw Q2 out: What are implications for us being viewed as “helpers?” How can we be change impression to “collaborators?” #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian As they say, a teachable moment. And to be fair, some of them (even some decidedly "dudes") also seemed excited! #critlib

a2 In union environment, being "helper" often means working off contract. Hard but critical to say no once workload met. #critlib

#critlib A2- not sure how many other fac on my campus get asked to proctor exams, sub for classes. "I'm sure the library can held w/ that."

A2 This is tough. As librarians, we tend to define ourselves as helpers, not necessarily as collaborators or equals. #critlib

@ibeilin Working overtime. #critlib

A2 I'm just now answering ref q's and I have a hard time drawing the line between helping and actually doing the research... #critlib

@kevinseeber ugh that drives me nuts #critlib

Also never know if it's gender or librarian that gets me on take-the-minutes duty so often. #critlib

A2 I guess its because I'm new but I don't see myself as a collaborator but more of a fetcher of things #critlib

A2 Asserting expertise and saying no are important. Just say no to that one shot - but back up with solid pedagogical reasons. #critlib

.@catladylib so true, sometimes the problem is us! how we define and market ourselves #critlib

#critlib A2- As for collaborating, I've gotten out of the habit of saying "I'd be happy to speak w/ your students." They're all our students

@ginaschless: it's limiting when faculty request to just show databases, that's it. let us teach #critlib

A2: also, there's the whole imposter syndrome thing -- feeling inadequate as educators, compensating by being johnny-on-the-spot #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian and until we can critically examine ourselves and our approach, I don't know if our "helper" image will change. #critlib

@edrabinski I just got appointed recorder for my campus curriculum committee! #critlib

@kevinseeber recently found out that librarians had been written into someone's syllabus as the go-to people for proctoring 80+ #critlib

Also think there are limits to collaboration in neolib/commercialized university. Who has the time? #critlib

@kevinseeber Lol! Congrats! #critlib

A2: Also, getting crap jobs at a department level -- send the lucrative gigs to IT, send the boring minutiae to the library #critlib

@catladylib yes!! #critlib

That thing where you're so tired at the end of a 10 hr work day that you save your IL prep/grading for tmr and tune in to #critlib instead.

@edrabinski At least I know it’s because I’m usually the only one who shows up w/ a laptop at meetings outside the lib! #critlib

A2 I think we disavow our own labor/expertise too readily, long prof. discourse of letting patrons just see ease of access/order #critlib

A2 #critlib "helper" and "collaborator" have implications. Librarian not elf "helper" nor co-author "collaborator." At best: pathfinder?

a2: collaboration is intimate & difficult. hard to collaborate w/o establishing prior relationships or on a short time scale. #critlib

When librarians are faculty, it's double-edged sword: we get automatic respect as profs., but are questioned about why we are. #critlib

@ginaschless Explain why that is not effective, and propose more pedagogically sound lesson plan! #critlib

@wpwvcacrl I think the co-author collaborator is more common than we recognize. #critlib

@donnarosemary #priorities #critlib

@kevinseeber @wpwvcacrl especially with things like assignment design #critlib

A2 Instead of being Mother Mary/intercessors, I'd prefer lib*s seen like zookeepers…integral to collections' livelihood & use #critlib

@foureyedsoul Zookeepers? But information just wants to be free! #critlib

@wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian yeah. Do you think the ref desk model creates that service expectation though? #critlib

@ibeilin :D Like a moose wandering down the street, information out of context can be destructive #critlib

A3 I feel like I have to fight so much in terms of stereotype, espec. as a POC. I just try to be my authentic self. #critlib

A3: I always talk about what my job actually entails: teaching, talking to a lot of people, building relationships. #critlib

This made me #lolz RT @ibeilin: @foureyedsoul Zookeepers? But information just wants to be free! #critlib

@catladylib @kevinseeber @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian Idea is, bring same type research Qs as would to office hours. #critlib

@donnarosemary @foureyedsoul We could certainly keep going with the metaphor, but I'll restrain myself. #critlib

@foureyedsoul yeah def & there might even be study out there, I haven't searched beyond reading the Radfords' discussion of it #critlib

@catladylib @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian My hunch at MPOW is that yes, it does, but it's a HUGE cultural shift to do away w/ desk #critlib

@catladylib @kevinseeber @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian Plus, my syllabus lists my ref desk time for office hours, and by appt! #critlib

@catladylib @kevinseeber @pumpedlibrarian #critlib Annie, I'm not sure if it's confusing or students just don't care. Anyone to help them.

@Fobettarh good point about school librarians, those stereotypes are even more difficult than academic librarians it seems #critlib

.@kellymce Agreed, role definition=opportunity. How exactly can students meet us for the 1st time already understanding all we do? #critlib

@kevinseeber @LibrarianPete Do you swear in faculty meetings, though? We have many different voices/personas... #critlib

A3: I choose examples and activities carefully, to reflect my interests/identities and the richness of our collections. #critlib

A3: Students who think I will not list 15 synonyms for weed are: wrong. #critlib

@wpwvcacrl @LibrarianAngie @pumpedlibrarian @catladylib Totally! The library as McDonalds Drive through! #critlib

@ginaschless @LibrarianAngie That's a great idea, too. Giving me some ideas here #critlib

Q4: (part I) Just an anecdote - when I worked at CC library a few years ago, student asked a colleague when told I'm a librarian: #critlib

Next Q: Q4 Is there uneven expectation for women & intersectional librs to engage in “emotional labor?” If yes, how is this harmful?#critlib

@catladylib nailed this on the head. #critlib #refdeskasclassroom or #refdeskascustomerservice @kevinseeber @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian

Q4: (part II): I was the only male librarian there - I did not meet expectations. Not sure how this played out day-to-day. #critlib

@kevinseeber @kellymce Yeah, me too. My mom would be ashamed. But that's why I got a job, so I didn't have to live with my mom. #critlib

A3 Basic, but I often switch "expected" genders if discussing any profession: mechanic->"her" nurse->"him" etc. #critlib

THIS. #love MT @LibrarianAngie: Shouldn’t we be changing that? We relabeled ref to "librarian office hours". #critlib

A3 I do my best to punish heteronormativity and other isms in classroom. It can be a throwaway comment but it'll be in the lesson #critlib

Q4 #critlib There is no denying that librarians are mostly women. Field is a science, but we are still seen as caretakers. Weird.

@catladylib I totes agree tho--we may see ref as IL, but students may see as cust serv #critlib @kevinseeber @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian

A4 Yeah I am not baking cookies for anyone. #justsayin #critlib

@catladylib @donnarosemary @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian We should have an unconference in PDX. #toolate #critlib #acrl2015

@catladylib @donnarosemary @kevinseeber @wpwvcacrl let's talk about it at the ACRL 2015 #critlib Unconference!  https://www.facebook.com/events/422334827909486/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming …

@kevinseeber So do/will I. My pt is stereotype of "helper" hard to break at trad ref desk #critlib @catladylib @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian

@LibrarianPete @kevinseeber I just don't want to be that old white lady who is trying to be cool. We all know THAT doesn't work. #critlib

A3 Unfortunately I can't get too direct with teaching them to question the hegemony. Critical thinking=bad with that in schools #critlib

@donnarosemary @kevinseeber @catladylib @pumpedlibrarian #critlib Even worse. I was called "desk attendant"

#critlib Observation to offer: Expectations ≠ commands. Teaching requests ≠ commands. We ≠ vending machines. Interactions are opportunities.

@ginaschless @LibrarianAngie I'm advocating we change to "Research Services" @ MPOW. We'll see! #critlib

A4: I'm male. Def. not the default in the field. Tho often feel more put out by coworkers than ppl I help. #critlib

@kellymce @LibrarianPete That doesn't work?!? OH NO! #critlib

1 advantage to stereotype / not being taken seriously is libs often seen as neutral. Avoids some nasty politics, to look on bright #critlib

@LibrarianPete would you mind expanding? #critlib

Adding Q5: How can we negate “warm” and “cold/competent” as mutually exclusive? Esp. for s-types of women-dominated profession #critlib

@ginaschless not at all! on which answer? #critlib

When doing actual customer service in record store, I OFTEN had to reframe customer expectations. Why not in lib* also? #critlib @sarahpolk

@donnarosemary @wpwvcacrl @kevinseeber @catladylib I've changed my email sig & f2f instruction intro to incl. "faculty librarian" #critlib

.@kellymce For sure, complexities and complications. But first step IMO is don't give your power away. Remember your own worth. #critlib

@christinacz Mention gender spectrum, refuse to tolerate giggling about lgbt, discuss how ads promote certain ideals, etc #critlib

#critlib A5- figuring out that question, and it's answer, is the whole ball of wax.

@catladylib @kevinseeber @donnarosemary @wpwvcacrl @pumpedlibrarian I will look it up if you ask me to. #critlib

@LibrarianPete feeling more put out by coworkers #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian @donnarosemary @wpwvcacrl @kevinseeber @catladylib I’ve changed mine to title on contract - Asst. Prof. #critlib

A5 Actually caught up on #critlib feed to answer Q5! -- I do my best to embody both and all I do in my work.

@foureyedsoul @sarahpolk A la Barry in High Fidelity? #critlib #gotothemall

Q5: Our whole gender regime must be overcome for us to defeat the stereotypes. It's the bigger battle. #critlib

A5 I try to be deliberate w/ this, where I juxtapose both aspects of my professionalism (empathy+competence) within a single task #critlib

Also, setting the bar high doesn't equate to cold/unkind. Starting on the "smiling" upper hand sets tone for relevance/expectations #critlib

@susanarcham oy, that actually really bums me out! where do you see this as a positive? #critlib

A4 I'm naturally soft-spoken but feel added pressure to be at work. One of 3 POC on staff in building. #critlib

@ibeilin Need to overcome stereotypes of librarianship, as well as "feminine" being seen as "less than". #critlib

A5 I love acting/being ways that challenge what a person(s) expect from/of me. I try to be both in all contexts, model for others #critlib

A5 #critlib Hmm. I don't think abt it, just be myself. Sometimes colder. sometimes warmer. Depends on interaction.

@ginaschless coworkers comment on my atypical maleness far more than ppl I help. assume I'm less game to perform certain tasks. #critlib

A5 Not always successful at this though! #workinprogress #critlib

The emotional burden substantial. Act right, talk right, even eat right while still trying to be true to self. #critlib

Q5: Like @Fobettarh does, fighting the stereotypes, and the gender regime, in the classroom, is one of the best ways to do it. #critlib

Somebody needs to get this 3yo to sleep so I can catch up on #critlib! aaarggh

Thinking tonight's #critlib is the jelly to last week's peanut butter microaggressions chat moderated by @catladylib

@LibrarianAngie @pumpedlibrarian @donnarosemary @wpwvcacrl @kevinseeber @catladylib "Assistant Professor & eLearning Librarian" #critlib

A5 Like @donnarosemary I deliberately try to do both. Showing guys can be empathetic & competent. >> #critlib

@donnarosemary it's hard! #critlib

A4 As many POC already know, those on the margins have to work twice as hard for half the credit/acknowledgment #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian they seriously go hand-in-hand. Microaggressions and stereotypes in the workplace feed into each other. #critlib

@ibeilin yes! many gender traits are ingrained during early socialization, the hedging and body language not exuding authority #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian they seriously go hand-in-hand. Microaggressions and stereotypes in the workplace feed into each other. #critlib

@ibeilin yes! many gender traits are ingrained during early socialization, the hedging and body language not exuding authority #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian @catladylib And there's a bridge to the next #critlib, too: stereotypes affect our work conditions and labor relations.

@pumpedlibrarian @catladylib And there's a bridge to the next #critlib, too: stereotypes affect our work conditions and labor relations.

A5 Students' affective needs can be also info needs: "Yes, 1st gen student, you belong enough for an authority figure to listen." #critlib

@pumpedlibrarian @catladylib #critlib Yeah! I was thinking about that with A4.

@ibeilin @pumpedlibrarian @catladylib GUYS IT'S ALL CONNECTED and my head may explode from that fact! :-) #critlib #kablooey

Oh wow! That hour flew by, keep chatting as long as you'd like, but #critlib is "officially" over, time for critlib-pitch

A5 This sounds hopelessly naive, but finding ways to show that, yep, I am a person, can help a lot with this. #critlib

A5: If we don't answer someone's emotional need, it probably won't matter how well we answer their information need #critlib

A5 But that has to be reciprocal, not seeing "students" as a monolith, and all the stereotypes we have about them, either. #critlib

@foureyedsoul This plays into how we teach/define "authority." Really need to question how we handle that in class. #doingitwrong #critlib

My pitch is if you liked tonight's topic see The Librarian Stereotype book, we have a review up from LJ  http://librarianwardrobe.com/post/97574783103/review-of-the-librarian-stereotype-book … #critlib

I'm actually thinking a lot about my beloved Nonviolent Communication with A5:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_Communication … #critlib

I'm actually thinking a lot about my beloved Nonviolent Communication with A5:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_Communication … #critlib

Thank you @pumpedlibrarian for a great #critlib discussion. Many thought provoking Q's!

Thanks for an informative first #critlib #latecomer !

Tune in next time for #critlib moderated by yours truly. Look for reading and questions on the cheat sheet soon!

2nd part of my pitch is hey! we have a special added #critlib next week with some UIUC LIS students talking about Salaita, @oksveta will mod

@kellymce Ooooh I have never heard of this--this wiki entry will be my bedtime reading tonight! #critlib

My #critlib pitch is off-topic but MPOW made this declaration on non-disclosure in licenses. Thought you might enjoy.  http://www.library.ualberta.ca/aboutus/collection/disclosure/ …

Oh, the topic will be Labor solidarity within and across the library and related issues #critlib

@IU_LibLion @ibeilin We have done so historically, but really need to stop. Plenty of other "supporters" retain their agency. #critlib

Not pitch exactly, more suggestion: maybe use TWARC to collect #critlib tweets (as #teamharpy is doing) to help Storifiers?

Thanks @pumpedlibrarian for moderating a worthwhile discussion :) #critlib

My #critlib pitch is for volunteers for @GLBTRT bib and awards committees:  http://www.glbtrt.ala.org/news/archives/1202 … Like to read queer books? This is for you!

Thanks @pumpedlibrarian for moderating and for a great read. #critlib

Thanks to @pumpedlibrarian for moderating tonight's #critlib!

Thx for a great #critlib @pumpedlibrarian !

And once again, #critlib reminds me how excellent this profession is. This unconference is going to be awesome.

Thanks too to @eldefrain for the article! #critlib

Missed #critlib tonight, in both senses of the word. Loving the things I'm reading that speak to recognizing our personal and prof. worth.

Going back through the #critlib side discussions I missed. (Spoiler: They're ALL the best timeline!) Thanks @pumpedlibrarian & @eldefrain !

@kellymce I think it stems from fac not seeing info lit as a discipline, which means we're not biased towards any 1 disciplne #critlib