A person who works in a library and is trained to organize, manage, and help people find books and information. They may also plan events and teach people how to research.
From Latin *librarium* (bookcase) and *liber* (book), leading to *librarius* (person in charge of books). The English word formed by adding *-ian*, meaning “person connected with.”
Modern librarians are more like information engineers than quiet book-shelf keepers. They manage digital databases, copyright rules, and research skills—your shortcut to finding reliable knowledge fast.
'Librarian' has been stereotyped as a feminized profession, often sexualized or trivialized in media despite requiring high levels of expertise. Historically, women librarians played major roles in building public library systems while facing pay gaps and limited advancement.
Avoid clichéd gendered imagery (e.g., 'sexy librarian,' 'spinster librarian') and describe librarians by their skills and roles, not appearance or presumed gender.
Women librarians and information professionals have been central to knowledge organization, literacy campaigns, and digital access, yet their contributions are often under‑recognized in tech‑centric histories.
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