Why it matters: Librarians are no longer the shushing protectors of dusty book collections — they're civic leaders, de facto social workers and increasingly the target of public scorn.

Stamberg said Malesky was not the stereotypical librarian gently shushing the noisy. She had a big personality — so-much-so that PBS created a fictional movie about her high school years called ...

Stamberg said Malesky was not the stereotypical librarian gently shushing the noisy. She had a big personality — so much so that PBS created a fictional movie about her high school years called ...