This paper aims to develop new knowledge about how librarians are represented in contemporary novels and films and whether they are represented as stereotypes or not, as well as comparing the representations in novels and films. Five novels and five films published between 2004 and 2024 were analyzed using an analytical tool in combination with qualitative content analysis, where the librarians’ characters, appearances, personalities, behaviors and work were examined and coded into 24 different attributes. They were later compared to three librarian stereotypes to see if they identified as any of them. 

The result of the study shows that the representation of librarians in contemporary novels and films is varied and overall neutral or positive. Three of the ten librarians identified as two of the librarian stereotypes, but none of the librarians in this study identified as the “classical” librarian stereotype of an older, angry lady with her hair in a bun and glasses. There are many similarities between the representations in novels and films, with a few notable differences. The representation of librarians in films was more visible and less neutral than librarians in novels. Some new patterns of how librarians are represented in contemporary novels and films are found by looking at frequent codes within the attributes, and most of these new patterns paint the librarians in a more positive light than previous studies have shown.