The Hogwarts librarian

[sbursztynski]

No: HPFGUIDX 80665

--
> Actually, there's a bit of cannon that contradicts that Madam Pince 
doesn't help the students.
> 
> Goblet of fire. chapter 26
> "So Harry, thinking that he would soon have had enough of the 
library to last him a lifetime, buried himself once more among the 
dusty volumes, looking for any spell that might enable a human to 
survive without oxygen. However, though he, Ron, and Hermione
searched 
through their lunchtimes, evenings, and whole weekends - though Harry 
asked Professor McGonagall for a note of permission to use the 
Restricted Section, and even asked the irritable, vulture-like 
librarian. Madam Pince, for help - they found nothing whatsoever that 
would enable Harry to spend an hour underwater and live to tell the 
tale."
> I'm guessing that we don't see Madam Pince helping Harry because 
it's one of those minute details, daily routine things that aren't 
mentioned, like the personal bathing habbits or lack thereof that
were 
discussed a week or two ago.  Plus, I can't imagine Madam Pince not 
helping Hermione, with all the time she spends in the library.

> Betty.


"And even asked... for help" suggests, to me at least, that they 
normally don't, probably because she is "irritable and vulture-like" 
and tends to glare at kids who actually use her "precious books" - 
can't recall which book that was in, but it was either GoF or OoP. 
It's not so much a case of whether or not she helps on request, but 
the  negative - and very cliched - "library dragon" portayal. 
Compare/contrast this with the warm (perhaps equally cliched, but at 
least positive) portrayal of the school nurse. What is it with these 
children's writers, anyway? I know there have been a few library 
dragon types in the past, before it became a proper profession with 
qualifications and training in working with library users - I once 
replaced one who'd been at the school for 20 years and had left 
negative signs up - "No this, that or the other! Don't..." etc. (I 
replaced them with a "Welcome to your library" sign and "Please
finish 
your lunch before you come in".) But they're long gone. Most of us 
love kids and adore teaching them to be skilled researchers and 
saying, "Have I got a book for you!" and looking through library 
displays, thinking, "Hey, such-and-such a student will LOVE this one!"

It's time writers caught up with the facts, that's all I mean. As for 
Hermione, not sure how *I'd* feel if an otherwise good student
started 
ripping pages out of books! (COS) ;-)

Sue B, who never expected so much response to this thread!(g)