Rupert Giles: How to Slay the School Library Profession

The character of Rupert Giles, played by Anthony Stewart Head, will forever rank among the top of the "fan favorites" list.

This charming, witty, British tongue whips men and women alike into frenzies while his character depth and development leaves not even critics to be desired. Though Giles is a consistently important cog of the Scooby team, he does seem to often leave behind one crucial part of his identity: his profession. I am fully aware of the many complexities of Giles's story arcs, however, for the purpose of this essay, I am limiting the scope to include only Buffy season 1 through 3 in order to reflect his time as the librarian at Sunnydale High School. You know-before it literally became Hell.

Rupert Giles devotes his time and effort as a Watcher and noted Buffy father figure, but how does he measure up to the position of school librarian? For those of you just looking for a bottom line: pretty poorly. Though the American Library Association (ALA) does not have concise criteria for being an A+ school librarian, there are several suggestions and a clear concession by those powers that be within the profession on what makes a good school librarian. The good school librarian must have a good collection development, a professional and friendly reference demeanor, must be up-to-date on the technology of the times, and must engage in teacher collaboration for the good of the students and their literary development.

For those who work for the state in any profession, you are aware of the money binds that are placed like shackles around your neck. Yes, they allow you to buy things for your job, however everything must be justified. For this reason, school librarians spend hours looking for new books and reference materials for their student's age group to supplement their libraries. I am currently in a class in which I am learning how to choose diverse children's books in order to avoid racism and sexism while still portraying the many, many cultures of the student body and the world. If we were to follow this line of thinking, Giles, being a high school librarian, should want to use the school's tax-payer money to find great sources to develop their research skills. Those few that survive high school must be strong so they may want to go to college one day. Well, those students who actually care about their grades and future will be thoroughly disappointed. First, there were obviously few books within the library. Second, whenever they were doing research on whatever paranormal entity was attacking, they were noticeably looking all over the library for information. Are all the books in the Sunnydale Library about the occult? Is there no literature, computer development, SAT Prep whatsoever? John Cullen in his articles, "Rupert Giles, the Professional-image Slayer," said it best when he stated, "Giles stocks his collection with occult works irrelevant to the wider student population he is supposed to serve" (42). Some may say his use of school money solely for Buffy's reference is a good thing, better for the whole of humanity and all. However, those high school students are going to graduate and not know a thing about essay writing, common literature, logical skills, or anything that can truly help them in the real world, through collections or through reference assistance.

One of the most important trends in the modern library is to have a friendly atmosphere and reference. No longer is it the age of buns, shushing, and the anti-social librarian.

In library school today, master's students are taught on being welcoming and social beings in order to assist patrons of all types, ages, and cultures. School librarians are vitally important to the knowledge development of the students. In fact, Topsy N. Smalley, in the article entitled "College Success: High School Librarians Make the Difference," it is concluded that, "Within the last decade, research has provided solid evidence that school library programs- ones with credentialed librarians, where librarians partner with school faculty, and whose libraries have sufficient staffing and collections-contribute to student achievement" (193). Well, Giles, being the only librarian, must work extra hard to give every student his full attention in order to help them fulfill their potential, right? Actually, Giles is never seen helping an average student with a research project. In fact, he is genuinely surprised to see students even enter the library. His reference skills when it comes to Buffy's mission are unparalleled. "He bridges the chasm between the information as it lives in the text and the transfer of that information into a form the Slarerettes and Buffy can actually use" (Wandless, par. 6). This is the definition of good reference work, if he would only use it for more than just Buffy. His Watcher duties would not negate his duties to the other students whom rely on him to be their librarian. Though it is just the 90’s, he should be building students’ knowledge of reference materials and the use of the internet which is obviously the future.

Another staple of the good school librarian is the knowledge of library technology and the willingness to learn more. I realize that for Giles, the idea of using a computer may be a touchy subject given that it would remind him of Jenny and her sad demise. However, he easily perpetuates the male librarian stereotype of being technologically inept, even confessing that computers fill him with “childlike terror” (“I Robot, You Jane”). He is confused that this glass box could be a tool for searching and knowledge just as books and volumes.

Again, I realize that it is not the digitized world that it is today, however school librarians play the role of the best (and sometimes only) source for technological development in the academic sense for their representative school.  He is the only link some teachers might have to the developing technological world around them, and he is not even willing to learn. The few students who graduate and desire forwarding their education are out of luck if they do not know how to use basic search functions.

Lastly, a good school librarian works in conjunction with teachers for the good of the students. They know what each English teacher will teach in a given semester in order to stock the library with guides and assistance. They will promote literacy and library learning through marketing techniques like library fun days, posters, challenges, and alike. They will actually want students in their library. According to the ALA’s State of America’s Libraries Report 2014, “School librarians are highly involved leaders playing a critical role in their schools through consistent and sustained collaboration with other educators” (ALA). Modern librarians even offer classes for teachers and administrators on library instruction, research, and some technological uses. Aside from Giles’s romance with Mrs. Jenny, rarely is he seen interacting with other educators that Sunnydale High School must have stashed somewhere. Though the many principals do make appearances, those who watch the show know that principals are rarely good guys just there to assist the students in their learning futures. They often die grisly deaths as well. The point being made here, however, is that Giles does not even try. Giles does not even seem to care about the student’s learning environment or their lives outside of the school.

I am fully aware of the impact having Rupert Giles as a librarian has done on the profession’s popularity. GraceAnne A. DeCandido says, “Here is a librarian model who is elegant, deeply educated, well (if fussily) dressed, handsome, and charged with eroticism” (45).  However, I believe John Cullen said it best when he said, “We juggle technology, management, customer service, scholarship, and public relations constantly. We require a graduate degree because only the best and brightest need apply. If Giles actually spent one day fighting the battles that real librarians face, all the bloodcurdling demons in hell wouldn’t faze him” (42). Rupert Giles is one great Watcher, but he fails as a school librarian. As he fails, so does his students. 

  

Cullen, J. Rupert Giles, the Professional-image Slayer. American Libraries, 31, 42. Retrieved May 15, 2014, from the Academic OneFile database.

DeCandido, G. Bibliographic Good vs. Evil in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. American Libraries, 10, 44-47.

Smalley, T. N. College success: high school librarians make the difference. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 30, 193-198.

School Libraries. (n.d.). American Library Association. Retrieved June 16, 2014, from http://www.ala.org/news/state-americas-libraries-report-2014/school-libraries

Wandless, William. "Undead Letters: Searches and Researches in Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Slayage: The Journal of the Whedon Studies Association 1 (2001) [http://slayageonline.com/essays/slayage1/wandless.htm].