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estereótipos versus realidade

Abstract

Stereotypes, standardized and mistaken views, affect the perception of the profession of librarian, especially in the school environment, influencing the choice of course by the entrance exam students. Thus, the aim of this research is to analyze how university students see the figure of the librarian through the stereotypes attributed to the profession. The study, which is descriptive and qualitative-quantitative in nature, is characterized as a case study using descriptive statistics. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to 24 third-year high school students from three schools in the Metropolitan Region of Recife. The most recurrent stereotypes were: a) gesture of silence; b) older person; c) grumpy; d) irritated; e) rigid; and f) formal, old-fashioned clothes. The students said they were aware of the activities carried out by librarians, but the majority restricted themselves to actions related exclusively to books, disregarding the social and cultural activities of this professional. Among the persistent stigmas is the association of librarians with silence, that they are completely oblivious to fashion and that they see the library as an outdated environment. Among the measures suggested, we highlight the appreciation of the true mission of the professional librarian, which goes far beyond the stereotypes crystallized in society.