Top Ten Films featuring Libraries, Librarians and the Book Arts
Compiled by Steven J. Schmidt
IUPUI University Library

Desk Set (20th Century Fox, 1957) Not Rated

Director: Walter Lang.
Screenplay: Henry and Phoebe Ephron.
Cast: Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Gig Young, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill, Sue Randall.

Storyline: Efficiency expert Richard Sumner (Tracy) is hired to install EMERAC, a room size computer in the reference department of a TV network. Misunderstanding and Sumner’s secrecy leads Head of Reference Bunny Watson (Hepburn) and the librarians to believe that the computer will replace them. Bunny's long time beau, Mike Cutler (Young) is an ambitious network executive becomes apoplectic when Sumner and Watson start sending out sparks.

Library focus: Even though all of the librarians (Hepburn, Blondell, Merrill and Randall) are stereotyped as single women, they are also shown to be knowledgeable information professionals. They handle questions with efficiency and with a sense of humor, however purists may say that the service they present is flawed since they fail to cite sources in most cases. Desk Set is a marvelous reminder that technology is not always the answer. Overall, the film presents a positive image for the profession.

Image copyright of Internet Movie Database.

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