Loading...
Start Date
9-10-2020 9:30 AM
End Date
9-10-2020 10:15 AM
Description
Several librarians gathered together at the lunch table on an average Wednesday. The conversation drifted to an earlier meeting in which one staff member delivered a new software instruction. “But did you see all her tattoos?” one librarian noted, curiously. “Isn’t it funny how that has become acceptable over such a short amount of time?” The table, however, divided on this statement. Are visible tattoos considered professional in a library?
The decision to undergo body modifications can be done for a myriad of personal reasons, ranging from love of the art, expression of the person's individuality, to display an affiliation, or for religious and/or spiritual beliefs. In the winter of 2020, our research team set out on a quest to discover the culture of acceptance of body modifications, including tattoos, piercings, and unnatural hair colors, among library personnel. Breaking down the survey participant groups into Library Practitioner, Library Administrator, and the Library User, we explored how these body modifications affected perceptions of professionalism in libraries.
With over 850 participants, the study discussed not only perceptions of professionalism, but also the number of those who have body modifications and those who wish to acquire some in the future. The study also delved into possible reasons a tattoo, piercing, or dyed hair may or may not be appropriate. For instance, participants noted a disapproval of tattoo content that includes vulgar or offensive imagery. The study also explores questions regarding placements of body modifications and surprising exceptions to the overall opinion base.
So, have these body modifications become acceptable in the new age of librarianship? It is our hope the results of the study will reflect current attitudes of the user groups regarding these body modifications and inform on the possible creation of (or changes to) policies regarding them.
Everybody in! And We Mean Everybody: Ink and Professionalism in Libraries
Several librarians gathered together at the lunch table on an average Wednesday. The conversation drifted to an earlier meeting in which one staff member delivered a new software instruction. “But did you see all her tattoos?” one librarian noted, curiously. “Isn’t it funny how that has become acceptable over such a short amount of time?” The table, however, divided on this statement. Are visible tattoos considered professional in a library?
The decision to undergo body modifications can be done for a myriad of personal reasons, ranging from love of the art, expression of the person's individuality, to display an affiliation, or for religious and/or spiritual beliefs. In the winter of 2020, our research team set out on a quest to discover the culture of acceptance of body modifications, including tattoos, piercings, and unnatural hair colors, among library personnel. Breaking down the survey participant groups into Library Practitioner, Library Administrator, and the Library User, we explored how these body modifications affected perceptions of professionalism in libraries.
With over 850 participants, the study discussed not only perceptions of professionalism, but also the number of those who have body modifications and those who wish to acquire some in the future. The study also delved into possible reasons a tattoo, piercing, or dyed hair may or may not be appropriate. For instance, participants noted a disapproval of tattoo content that includes vulgar or offensive imagery. The study also explores questions regarding placements of body modifications and surprising exceptions to the overall opinion base.
So, have these body modifications become acceptable in the new age of librarianship? It is our hope the results of the study will reflect current attitudes of the user groups regarding these body modifications and inform on the possible creation of (or changes to) policies regarding them.