”The girl is a librarian” : A metaphor analysis of the description of libraries and librarians in fiction literature for children

The purpose of this essay is to examine how libraries and librarians are represented in fiction books for children and to examine the possible implications of these representations. The study is based on an analysis of ten fiction books for children in the 6-12 age group (Hcf-Hcg), and published in Swedish between 2000 and 2016. Metaphor analysis is used as both theory and method, and the empirical material is analysed through close reading. The results are presented in an analytical scheme and model based on quotations from the books. The images of libraries and librarians that emerged in this study fit in well with the stereotypical description of librarians found in previous research. Librarians are depicted as having a special relationship with their beloved books, and are often described as proper, emotional, protective and wicked. The library also corroborates stereotypical descriptions found in previous research as boring and dark places, but also as a safe and an important institution that is likened to the Church. The old stereotype of the silent library is not so prevalent in the sample. These representations can be seen as conserving stereotype images that have little bearing on the progress of the library and the development of the library profession today. The use of metaphors is an important part of the language and impact on how we perceive the outside world. Metaphor use is a major power factor, and is likely to affect how children perceive the library