The latest action figure doesn't portray the usual crime-fighting hero or the moment's popular TV character. No, this superhero is much more important than that. It's the guardian of stories, fighter of illiteracy, keeper of information, your very own research tool and friend: "The Librarian!" is coming to a toy store near you.
For only $8.95, you can purchase your very own librarian action figure, complete with "shushing action." She even comes with a collectible trading card and bookmark.
The figure, manufactured by Archie McPhee & Co., is portrayed as the stereotypical, Marian-the-Librarian square. She sports a frumpy blue dress and has a button on her back that, when pushed, makes her raise her arms to her mouth as if to "shush" noisy library patrons. Amazing!
Yet, because of her dowdy appearance and her "shushing action," librarians across the country are raising complaints, claiming "The Librarian" Barbie knock-off promotes an outdated stereotype. According to critics, the toy's representation of their profession in such a negative light is insulting; modern librarians shouldn't be generalized in such a manner.
"It's so stereotypical, I could scream," Diane Dubois, a Maine library director, told the Associated Press. Librarians like her from across the world have been phoning and e-mailing Archie McPhee & Co. with similar complaints.
But the real-life model for the doll, Nancy Pearl, calls the action figure "a lovely tribute to [her] chosen profession."
And it truly is. Though we must acknowledge the intrinsic humor in an action figure that reshelves and shushes, the production of the doll itself is a step forward for librarians. Putting librarians into action-figure form is some much-needed publicity for the career and pushes the public to think about library science as a profession. By its mere appearance on store shelves, the doll will encourage more children to consider becoming a librarian.
The role of the librarian in society is an important one. Librarians encourage literacy, spread a love of reading to a generation of children fed television since infancy (not an easy task, mind you), increase general knowledge and even stand up for important public issues (ode to the Patriot Act).
Pearl herself said it best in the Seattle Times: "The role of the librarian is to make sense of the world of information. If that's not a qualification for superhero-dom, what is?"
Librarians acting uptight about being portrayed as uptight: You've got to the love the irony. Just two words need to be said to that - lighten up.
The toy is simply a toy. Lose the bun, the frumpy dress and the amazing "shushing action," and a vital part of the doll is gone. A stereotype? Yes. But it seems to work for the doll. The figure pokes fun at a stereotype, while making its own statement on the topic. It's nothing more than that.
Furthermore, the librarian now joins the ranks of other highly esteemed characters, like Jesus and Shakespeare to name a few. Along with the book-wielding square, Archie McPhee & Co. will be releasing some other well-recognized action figures for sale in October, including a plastic Moses clutching his staff and tablet, Benjamin Franklin toting his kite and key, the Pope outfitted in full ceremonial dress and even Albert Einstein - complete with wacky hairdo.
With such prestigious characters in the mix, the addition of the librarian is certainly a unique one. By becoming a symbol we can all poke fun at, we are forced to admit that deep down, a librarian is someone we ultimately respect.
And so when you hit the stores in October to claim your own plastic Jesus, take a moment to reflect on the importance of librarians, and add "The Librarian" to your cart as well.
Rosie Cisneros is a journalism sophomore. Reach her at rosie.cisneros@asu.edu.
