Found: A career path worth considering.

Who'd have thought that a movie could be so thought provoking and relevant to what I've been studying.

I've recently been reading a lot about the stereotypes surrounding the librarian/archivist profession so I had to laugh as I watching The Librarian. Although not all librarians have to jump out of planes at 30,000 feet or tumble down water falls to save the spear that supposedly pierced Jesus on the cross, their lives are not confined to simply re-shelving books, or in an archivist's case, boxes and books. There tends to be the belief that librarians and archivists are detached from the rest of society. They are considered erudite due to their continual quest for knowledge and often portrayed as dis-shelved, absentminded, and lacking a sense of humor. The repository in which they work is often musty, dusty and dungeon like.

While Hollywood likes the stereotype because it's easy to turn a nerdy guy into a hero, most archivists and librarians despise it. They may spend hours pouring over information in search of their own personal spear, holy grail, or other historical gem, but they still remain more sociable then most people I've met and usually look more professional than the people they are hired to assist. There seems to be the stigma of academia attached to those that actually work in the field. A desire for learning shouldn't make one an oddball outcast of society. Most facilities are not ancient and musty, lit by gas lanterns or flames, but rather state of the art, climate controlled buildings that are as secure as Fort Knox.

Does the stereotype damage the profession? As false as it may be, I don't think it really hurts anything. Archivists seek out and preserve the historical record. It may not always be Indiana Jones style but the ramifications of failure can be tremendous. Guaranteed accountability for the actions of others - that's what it's all about. The thought that archivists hold the records that have the ability to change the course of history should override any uneasiness or disgust about what kind of image is portrayed by Hollywood or authors.

Who knows, maybe there is a market out there for a truthful portrayal of an archivist or librarian. It wouldn't necessarily be an action adventure. It could be more of a drama/suspense type story/movie about uncovering the misdeeds of a government or the tobacco industry. I should contemplate writing a series of books, maybe even a children's book.

Note to self: Become an archivist. Write books. Accept Pulitzer Prize(s). Sell rights to Walt Disney Studios. Accept Oscar for Best Screenplay. Retire. Write Memoirs. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.