The Sunday NYTimes has two feature articles on professions that are near and dear to my heart. First, librarians in “A Hipper Crowd of Shushers“:
How did such a nerdy profession become cool — aside from the fact that a certain amount of nerdiness is now cool? Many young librarians and library professors said that the work is no longer just about books but also about organizing and connecting people with information, including music and movies.
And though many librarians say that they, like nurses or priests, are called to the profession, they also say the job is stable, intellectually stimulating and can have reasonable hours — perfect for creative types who want to pursue their passions outside of work and don’t want to finance their pursuits by waiting tables.
And next, usability professionals (finally) get the spotlight in “Technology’s Untanglers: They Really Make it Work“:
Sometimes there is a huge disconnect between the people who make a product and the people who use it. The creator of a Web site may assume too much knowledge on the part of users, leading to confusion. Software designers may not anticipate user behavior that can unintentionally destroy an entire database. Manufacturers can make equipment that inadvertently increases the likelihood of repetitive stress injuries.
Enter the usability professional, whose work has recently developed into a solid career track, driven mostly by advancements in technology.
Now as someone with a foot planted in each profession, I have a (teensy-weensy) gripe. Take a look at the artwork that accompanies the articles. The librarians are all sexeh, hip, and intellectual. They’re pictured as a social group who are into having fun, going to parties, and love to mix and mingle while naming cocktails using the Dewey Decimal System.
The Usability pro is a mouse in a lab coat with its tail caught in a trap. Said mouse is looking over its eyeglasses while scribbling furiously on a clipboard.
Hmph. Maybe I’ll start wearing cat-eye glasses, clunky black shoes, vintage clothes and get those sleeve tattoos I’ve been thinking about for the last few years. 
