The document analyzes the casual writings of female librarians through a discourse analysis approach. It discusses the feminization of the librarian profession over time, from 1900 to 2005, and examines how language used in librarian writings reflects and shapes perceptions of gender roles and the profession. Examples of language are provided that portray librarianship as women's work focused on service, care, and local responsibilities.

2. Female Librarians as a Percentage of Total Librarians, 1900-2005

5. LISZen

7. An Example “ Make libraries report their website statistics and maybe they’ll start looking at the website as a real library service .”

8. Discursive Formations “ Library and Information Service - Services for PDA's” “ One way of stepping outside our cages is to think about how we might build a digital library as a new web business. In today’s world, the business model around web-based services is all based on stickiness.” “ A couple of weeks back I commented about the release of Aqua Browser Online OPAC software as a service - OaaS as I dubbed it - from the Dutch company Medialab.”

9. “ In American libraries we set a high value on women's work. They soften our atmosphere, they lighten our labour, they are equal to our work, and for the money they cost – if we must gauge labour by such rules – they are infinitely better than equivalent salaries will produce of the other sex.” - Justin Winsor, 1877 “ Embedded fears of being labeled 'sick,' 'selfish,' or 'sexless,' all function in similar ways. If the victim does not see the pattern, she will react to the particulars by becoming mindlessly 'normal,' murderously 'selfless,' moronically 'sexy.” - Mary Daly, 1978 Lawrence, KS librarians