The Magical Library and the Symbolic Representation : Library representation in The Librarian and The Librarians

Abstract: This thesis aims to answer the question of how the library is represented in the Librarian franchise, not only focusing on the films/tv-series but also how it is represented in print. The analysis of the library representation uses a background of the theory and method found in semiotics and iconography, as well as qualitative content analysis, to examine not only the literal/denoted representation, but also the symbolic/connoted, and then compar-ing these findings to the representation of libraries and librarians (with a focus on the stereotypes) found in former research on the subject. The libraries depicted in this franchise all adhere to the stereotypes in some ways, especially the grandeur or spaciousness, at times labyrinthine but there is always someone experienced to ask to help find what you are looking for. The library is represented in a positive light, it is not a place to be feared, it is a place of knowledge and adventure. The characters see these libraries as home or as a social “hub” for the community, they are signs of safety, comfort, and peaceful entertainment. A world without libraries is depicted as a dystopian nightmare. In the franchise there are some characters that can be interpreted as personification of the Library, in this thesis I am focusing on Judson, Charlene, and Ray (the spirit of the library), all of which embody several of the librarian stereotypes, such as intelligence and order, these characters signify in various ways how much the library depends on librarians. In conclusion, this franchise, although unrealistic, shows that the library does not have to be a boring place, and neither does the librarian profession. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.