One thing to know about me is that I’m a giant movie nerd.
In particular, I’m very partial to superhero movies, especially those from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). There’s something about watching those films that really gets to me. The characters depicted and the challenges they face are ripe with metaphor and symbolism. I’ve heard it said that fantasy and Sci-Fi are a way of speaking the truth through lies. One thing I know for sure, they speak to me loud and clear.
I’ve also recently made a connection between MCU characters and academic librarianship. I took a long hard look at the main characters from the Avengers movies and realized that they each represent important values of being a good librarian. Maybe I’m reading too much into it (ok, I definitely am), but here’s my take on six characteristics of a good librarian as seen through the lens of our beloved Marvel superheros.
1. Honourable like Captain America
Library professionals should strive to be more like Captain America. Incorruptible, dedicated, and above all, honourable. Cap will always do what’s right and won’t shy away from defending his beliefs. Likewise, a good librarian will always strive to assist their users, won’t be drawn to the dark temptation of plagiarism or cut corners on ethics requests.
2. Innovative like Iron Man
Being a good librarian is kinda like being the self-declared billionaire playboy philanthropist Tony Stark. At least as far as being innovative. Stark, better known as Iron Man, uses his creativity and inventiveness to develop a variety of suits that can adapt to any given situation. Librarians, in turn, should be innovative and create a variety of resources (e.g. documents, videos, research guides, etc) when promoting and providing library services to their users.
3. Charismatic like Thor
When the god of thunder and lightning steps in front of an audience, his charisma helps to charm and comfort those around him. You’re in good hands when Thor Odinson, king of Asgard, is before you. Similarly, when delivering a workshop or instruction, librarians should strive to command the room, not be afraid to sprinkle in the odd joke or two, and win over their crowd. Of
4. Adaptable like Black Widow
Black Widow has had to play the part of a “super spy” and adapt to whatever challenge she has faced over the years. Sometimes this means being diplomatic, and other times it means making a stand. Librarians also face many challenges on a regular basis and need to learn to adapt to any given situation. A room you booked for a workshop has been double-booked for another class? Your USB won’t load your presentation? The website you wanted is down during an important reference meeting? These situations can often arise in the course of a librarian’s career and the ability to make adjustments and come up with creative workarounds is a mark of a good librarian!
5. Accurate like Hawkeye
Hawkeye often gets overlooked as an Avenger, but his amazing accuracy earns him a spot on this list. Like him or not, he knows just what to target and always gets his mark. Good librarians do this, too! When assisting students with their research questions, good librarians can cut through the noise and get right to heart of the issue and find the resources most useful to their users. Librarians also need to learn how to communicate clearly and effectively, using specific language that leaves little room for error and misinterpretation.
6. Resilient like the Hulk
The Hulk is known for his sheer strength. One of the most powerful characters in the MCU, he can go toe-to-toe with anyone. But looking a bit deeper than his brute strength, we also can observe tremendous resilience and willpower. When Hulk is down, he always manages to get back up again. In fact, the bigger the problem, the deeper his resolve and the more he rises to meet the challenge. Librarians will also get knocked down on occasion (metaphorically speaking). Things won’t always go your way. Grants will fall through, special events will be cancelled, and guest speakers will cancel at the last minute. This is life throwing you a punch, and a good librarian needs to be able to dig deep and get themselves back up again, ready to take on the next challenge stronger than ever.