Librarian Faces Unwanted Attention

Abbey Hargreaves, a librarian near Washington, D.C., often finds her job clouded by inappropriate calls from people masking their true intentions. While one might think a librarian’s role revolves solely around books, her experience tells a different story.

“Every day is something new,” she shared, emphasizing the strange nature of her daily interactions. Hargreaves receives numerous lewd phone calls, revealing a troubling trend within the librarian community that often goes unspoken.

Shockingly, recent statistics indicate that over half of librarians in the U.S. deal with similar harassment. Hargreaves has become somewhat of a whistleblower by sharing her stories with an online audience that exceeds a million viewers, shedding light on this issue.

“I don’t always realize what’s happening until a colleague clues me in. Often, by the time I’m on the phone, I’m already a bit anxious,” she mentioned, referring to the unsettling comments she receives.

Alarmingly, this harassment seems to disproportionately affect women, who make up about 89% of the library workforce. A survey revealed that 75% of librarians have experienced some form of violence or harassment at work, whether from patrons or coworkers.

Reported incidents range from unsolicited advances to aggressive behavior. The report highlights that younger individuals and those in public-facing roles are more susceptible.

At 34, Hargreaves has spent over a decade in her role. Surprisingly, her harassers often start off pretending to be genuine patrons. What begins as a simple request for book titles can quickly devolve into inappropriate demands, sometimes even revealing their arousal as the conversation escalates.

Rather than overtly explicit inquiries, many of these callers play a more insidious game, seeking gratification by asking her to read sections from historical documents or obscure cases.

“I remember one caller asking me to read a specific Wikipedia page,” she recounted. “Later, I heard from other librarians who had similar experiences, suggesting it might be the same individual.” Online platforms have become a refuge for librarians to warn each other about these disturbing interactions.

One librarian shared experiences of a man who anonymously called multiple libraries, prompting staff to read the Declaration of Independence before hanging up abruptly. This predator-like behavior raises concerns about the vulnerability librarians face in their desire to assist others.

In another instance, a caller requested assistance with a sensitive topic, drawing suspicion about his true intentions. Such experiences are increasingly common, leading to discussions on social media about the nature of these interactions.

Interestingly, female callers also engage in similar behavior. Some have recounted unsettling experiences with a woman known as the “diaper lady,” who poses as a child inquiring about library facilities before asking more unconventional questions.

This persistent harassment highlights a disturbing reality. Juliet Cooper, a psychologist noted that the fetishization of librarianship creates a power imbalance, transforming what should be a professional environment into one where boundaries are often crossed.

Cooper argued that this behavior is far from innocent; it’s a serious breach of respect. The perception that public-facing roles, especially those involving women, are “safe” targets for such behavior needs to be addressed. To protect librarians, she emphasized the need for clear boundaries and safety protocols.

In New York, these harassing phone calls can lead to legal repercussions, including second-degree aggravated harassment charges. Yet, Hargreaves has chosen not to report such incidents to the authorities, opting instead for support from colleagues and supervisors who understand the nuances of her work environment.

Despite the challenges, Hargreaves finds her role gratifying. She values the ability to serve community needs and expresses gratitude for the network of support among librarians across the country.

“We look out for each other,” she explained, finding solace in the online library community, which provides a platform for sharing experiences and validating each other’s concerns amid unsettling encounters.