A cursory search of the interwebs an I’m surprised to find that only Librarian Barbie Mattel ever made was Bat Girl. (see above)
IMO: The fact that Bat Girl was a librarian was a decision of DC comic authors’ (I guess dunno much about comics) nonetheless that really means that to the best of my knowledge Mattel has never made a Librarian Barbie.
Librarian Barbie History
In the 00s much like the M&Ms vote for the new color campaign or the Crayola vote for a New Crayon campaign, Mattel attempted draw attention to their company using Web 2.0 strategies.
Mattel allowed website visitors to vote to choose the professions for Barbie in the “I can be” Barbie Career series. (See image below)
Apparently the librarian list-serves lit up! Here’s are some links to blog posts on the issue at that time:
Blog sisters question whether there should even be a Librarian Barbie. They write (in one of those millions of worthy blog posts that go out into the cold cold world without comment)…
Everyone’s very excited about the prospect of a librarian Barbie, but I’m not 100% sold on the idea. Here’s the thing: librarianship is typically a pink-collar profession. We’re in a field, like nursing or teaching, that is traditionally female, hence less pay and less respect. Now, mind you, I believe that what we (and nurses, teachers, daycare workers, etc.) do IS worthy of respect and recognition (and $$). However, I have a problem with people cheering on the idea of this doll (a stereotypical woman) being made in the image of an already stereotyped and undervalued position. The other dolls in the series have been an art teacher (Another pink collar!) and a doctor. Not just any doctor, not a pediatrician, but a children’s doctor. (Their choice of words. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with pediatricians, I’m saying- why not call things by their real names if we’re showing girls possibilities for the future?)
Very topically, the Blog Sisters addresses the librarian stereotype. Does the bun, sweater clip and de-ruffled suit not fit with the Barbie aesthetic? (Yeah, probably so if Bob Mackie has anything to do with it.)
And just how will Barbie be a librarian? Will she have glasses and a bun? An armload of books? Or will she be a sassy mama who can help a patron, research a topic, design and maintain a website, fix a computer, and teach a class in bibliographic instruction with one hand behind her back in the blink of an eye? How are you gonna visually represent THAT, Mattel?
(note: emphasis added by ecw)
For a more lighthearted POV I imagine some librarians, perhaps like the DIYers listed at the end of this post are Pro Librarian Barbie.
Although I haven’t seen this argument in the blogosphere, isn’t there an argument for the beneficial role of a Librarian career doll as a means to introducing children to the professional opportunities available when you add an “IS” to “Ms.”
Warrior Librarian “a Zine for Librarians who refuse to be classified” (circa 2002) wrote:
Interestingly, whilst 85% of parents voted for Librarian Barbie, only 37% of kids favored an Information Professional doll over the Architect or Policewoman Barbie alternatives.
and she quips:
At this time, it is not known if the Librarian Barbie will have optional accessories such a little plastic book cart or sensible shoes. There is no mention of the possibility of a Cataloguer Ken, or a Shelving Skipper.
That lead me to another cursory search for “Nerdy Ken Doll” but I didn’t find any clear winners. Personally I’m torn between Mr. Spock and Brandon from 90210. (see images below)
Getting back on Task… the purpose of this post was to solicit your feedback
I wonder whether any of our readers played Librarian with their Barbies or during make believe?
Also, I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on the Librarian Barbie issue.
Lastly, a little more DIY: Crafting your own Librarian Barbie avatar and online persona
If not supplied with a commercial solution to feul thier librarian barbie aspirations … leave it to engineering MSIS students to create a solution to fit their needs:
Interestingly there is a librarianbarbie myspace account.
Perhaps more exciting, one-step-away-from-the-library-diaorama a crafty flickr user who loves Goth has made their own Librarian Barbie called Librarian in Black with its own custom box. (see Amazing flickr slideshow)
//ecw a.k.a. miss_zola
Below are Librarian Barbie blog post honorable mentions:
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