LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS IN “FAMILY GUY”. LIBRARY REPUTATION IN U.S. ANIMATED TV SERIES AUDIENCE

Abstract

The article examines scenes from the animated comedy series "Family Guy" featuring libraries or librarians, to explore the stereotypes portrayed. Many characteristics attributed to the female librarian Joanna reflect common perceptions about librarians, and the show’s sharp humour effectively depicts opinions about what happens (or is believed to happen) in U.S. public libraries. The aim of the paper is to use a popular U.S. animated series to discuss the reputation and identity of the librarian profession, through the most effective and common clichés portrayed by non-library-professionals illustrators for a general, non-library-professional audience, thus providing an external and unbiased perspective. The appearances of the Quahog Public Library (and other libraries) or librarian Joanna (and other librarians) are discussed case by case, with dialogues quoted verbatim. The resulting image is quite close to how U.S. citizens and common people in general use to perceive librarians, libraries and their patrons. These first are women, poorly integrated socially and yet good and clever, with a passion for cats and a sense of childlike humour. They work in quiet and reliable research locations, often frequented by homeless people looking for a roof or a toilet. What does emerge is that the stereotypes portrayed in the series are very close to those already known and studied, and portrayed in other films and TV series, but nevertheless not in all respects, and the character of the Quahog's female librarian Joanna is definitely positive.