Librarian Spotting is an activity that those in the profession seem naturally inclined to do. Innumerable articles and websites catalogue librarian sightings in fiction, film and other media. Few are main characters since the librarian's role is usually a supportive one. It is easier to represent these side characters as a recognizable stereotype: hair in a bun, glasses, sweater sets and a stern demeanour... This is just one image that we all recognize, but there are others equally ill-flattering.

These stereotypes endure despite the technological advances that have transformed the profession within the last century. Librarians continue to explore the phenomenon through analytical essays, surveys and personal anecdotes. And here's more: a semi-chronological look at how librarianship has been transformed by technology, as the stereotypical images evolve or struggle to keep up.

Librarians spotted in the Movies, Fiction, and Comics, just for example.