THE IMAGE OF LIBRARIANS

Interviews with 120 residents of Southport are examined, suggesting that the general public does not subscribe to the image of librarians often given by the media, as evidenced by the more positive epithets frequently used to describe library staff. However, staff of reference libraries are not always held in such high esteem and it is recommended that this aspect of service should be addressed with a view to breaking down the reluctance of members of the public to avail themselves of staff assistance.