Librarian/Showgirl: Fight the Stereotype

Staff -- Library Journal, 2/26/2001

Inside Edition, which advertised for a librarian and a showgirl to switch places, found its librarian, Jennifer Lucas, electronic resources librarian for King County Library System in Seattle. Lucas told the Columbus (IN) Republic, near her hometown, that "it was so not like me at all. I don't wear much makeup and I've never worn false eyelashes. But it was really interesting to see how the look is put together and the experiences the showgirls go through." Reflected Lucas, "The reason I really did this is to bring attention to the fact that librarians aren't just stodgy old women, telling people to be quiet, like the stereotypes of them. It's a very happening field. Part of my crusade is to get out and let people know that whatever they're doing, they can use PCs or call a librarian, and get answers to questions about anything in the world."