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The Library & Information Science Professional's Career Development Center |
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Solo
Librarianship: Unique Challenges and Opportunities for New Librarians |
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Within the confines of small librarianship lies a perhaps even more challenging specialization: that of the solo or one-person librarian. The solo librarian must face many of the same issues as that of the librarian in the small library setting, but often with added complications such as time management issues and the pressures of professional isolation. However, the solo librarian does have the unique advantage – perhaps even more so than the librarian working in a conventional small library – of encountering the opportunity and necessity of learning and becoming proficient at just about every aspect of librarianship as one works overtime in the service of the parent organization, the library, and its patrons. It is an opportunity for new librarians just entering the field to quickly advance in their knowledge and careers. Solo Librarians Solo librarians (also known as one-person librarians) have become more common in recent years as institutions look for ways to downsize and cut costs.. They have traditionally been omnipresent in special libraries, most notably in corporate or museum settings, though they are also found in school, academic, and public libraries. In many cases, organizations have come to the conclusion that one professional is all that is needed for effective and efficient delivery of information needs. There are enough individuals that revel in this unique environment to make this a viable solution for institutions with small libraries. Daily Operations A typical day in the life of a solo librarian might include catching up on email, phone messages, and correspondence. Mail must be processed, often several times a day. There are usually constant interruptions from staff needing help or research advice. There are typical responsibilities that may need your attention, such as writing purchase orders for new books or ordering new equipment, supplies or furniture. You may work at public relations tasks to get the word out to the staff and the management about the importance of the library in the organizational hierarchy. This may require a great deal of promotional effort and it will also elicit more work for you if successful, but that is why you are there. Depending on the day, a great deal of time might be spent filling interlibrary loan requests, which are essential to the research of the patrons. And of course, you must keep statistics on all that you have done or accomplished in a month or a year, including the number of items circulated, the number of books or articles requested through interlibrary loan, and the questions that were answered, in order to “prove” the profitability of the library to the organization. At any time, your supervisor may assign you a new special project, which could cause your everyday work to be pushed aside. Budgeting Effectively managing and employing a budget is one of a solo librarian’s most important responsibilities. According to Seiss (2001), certain expenses need to be justified in order to emphasize to management that the library should control its own budget. The librarian must demonstrate the benefits of particular items; for example, how the item may save the organization time and money. When preparing a budget it is usually best to keep things simple. Consider present and future needs, possible organizational changes, and ways to cut costs or add needed services. It is always helpful to think about places to consolidate, eliminate, or reduce operations or services that have become unnecessary. Staffing and Supervisors Dealing with supervisors and handling staffing concerns often present unique challenges for the solo librarian. First of all, it is likely that you will have a supervisor who is not a librarian. Although this might cause some concern, there are also advantages to this situation. For example, non-librarian supervisors who have respect for your position will usually defer to your expertise when decisions about the library are required. They want the library to run as smoothly as possible, so they are often unlikely to interfere with your decisions. One problem, however, is that it will be more difficult and time consuming to justify particular needs, especially if they are technical in nature. Thus you must talk about these needs in a manner that management unfamiliar with libraries will be able to comprehend. Patrons might be referred to as customers and collections should be emphasized in terms of access and the benefit to the organization (Benedetti, 2003). Solo librarians often face unique issues related to staffing..In many cases there will not be a staff, which causes its own set of problems; in other cases nonprofessional staff will need to be secured from a variety of sources. Often you will need temporary help because you do not have enough time to accomplish everything that needs to be done. St. Clair (1992) states that help can be found from a variety of sources, depending on the parent institution that hosts the library. For instance, temporary staff members might be pulled from other departments. In other cases, it might be possible to obtain funding from outside the organization, as in the form of grants, for temporary help. Students are another possible source of labor and are often less expensive than other options. Student assistance actually has many advantages. The library may be able to stay open for more hours than it could with only one person on the staff. Students are also usually willing to perform just about any service. Having a student worker on the payroll for as little as five or ten hours a week can be a tremendous help to the overworked solo librarian. Eliminating some routine or clerical tasks gives you more time for the pressing professional elements of the job, for interesting special projects, or for professional development. A good and trustworthy student can perform many of the same tasks as a paraprofessional. You must be careful, however, not to take advantage of staff members. Student assistants should not be hired at a lower wage than a paraprofessional. Similarly, volunteers, a third option for temporary help, should not be asked to perform tasks which are not appropriate to someone who is not compensated. Jobs such as inventory and shifting should probably go to paid staff, while sorting, filing, compiling bibliographies, or answering phones might be more appropriate for an unpaid volunteer. Professional Isolation and Professional Development Being the only librarian in an organization may lead to a sense of isolation; professional development activities can often help alleviate these feelings. Professional development is particularly important for those who do not have access to a structured network of professionals with whom to exchange information. As you contend daily with the need to carry out a wide range of tasks of varying degrees of difficulty, you must also consider the time required to complete them and their importance to the organization and the library. All of these tasks must be performed at the highest level of service possible, all while you are dealing with a sense of isolation that cannot be understood until it is experienced. If you are used to working in an environment with many peers, it might be shocking to suddenly find yourself alone. For these reasons, professional development activities such as attending conferences and serving on committees may be vital to your success. BENEFITS Independence Along with the challenges, concerns, and simple day-to-day struggles that solo librarians face come certain benefits that are usually unique to this area of librarianship. Foremost among these is the sense and reality of true independence that comes with such a position. This independence allows you to set your own schedule and priorities, usually with little supervision or interference. You will also enjoy the ability to make your own mistakes and revel in your own successes. You are able to develop a close relationship with your customers and to anticipate their needs. You are able to try new things and to be creative when solving a problem. Because you are aware of just about everything going on in the organization, you will likely enjoy a high level of respect. You are the authority on information. Power and Influence According to St. Clair (1997), a second and closely allied aspect of the independence that comes with solo librarianship is the power and influence that is possible with such a position. Again, you will have the opportunity to shine as the sole information professional within the organization, and when that challenge is taken up, you will have the opportunity to gain a great deal of sway, both for the library and for yourself. You need to realize that you have a partnership with your organization, a partnership that both of you can benefit from. Management must recognize the value of the library within the organization and the advantages of employing a professional librarian to run it successfully. Positive Aspects for New Librarians Excelling as a solo librarian requires the mastery of myriad skills and talents and the ability to function in a constantly changing environment, which may deter new professionals from accepting such a position. It does seem a daunting task from the outside, but the fact is that a new librarian may never get a better challenge. In any new position, one is required to assimilate a great deal very quickly and the new solo librarian is no different. As a new solo librarian, you must take the time to look around and take stock of your position. You will get the chance to try out new ideas, to fail, and to succeed. You have the opportunity to become adept at nearly every aspect of librarianship. You can revel in the independence and freedom of the position and seek out ways to alleviate isolation through methods that will benefit the library and its parent organization. The new librarian who comes into a solo setting with fresh ideas can see them immediately implemented, and has the opportunity to shape his or her career around the opportunities to be found in this environment. For these reasons, solo librarianship is a career choice that new professionals should consider. References
For further information about solo librarianship, check out the Solo Librarians Division of the Special Libraries Association at http://www.sla.org/division/dsol/ Kristina Keogh was the solo librarian at the Florida State University Florence Study Center Library in Florence, Italy from 2004 to 2005. She received an M.A. in Art History from the University of Florida and her MLS from Florida State University. She is currently a reference librarian in the Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Article published May 2006 Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in LIScareer articles are those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the LIScareer editors.
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Page last updated
05/15/2006
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