Managing the One-Person Library

Running a large library with different human resources, each with a different set of responsibilities, skills and competencies, is difficult. Such a reality is also true in small libraries managed by librarians who function alone. Accordingly, this eight-chapter book aims to contribute to the worlds of theory and practice with an emphasis on how solo librarians can enhance their services to their patrons, students and customers and thrive on their own. Covering some managerial topics like organizational management, change management, stress management and people management, Chapter 1 provides an overview of solo librarians in terms of definition, their work description and some daily realities. Chapter 2 discusses how solo librarians can implement a marketing spirit into their endeavours to pursue their careers more successfully. Chapter 3 provides solo librarians with some empowering ways (e.g. meetings and networking, webinars and podcasts, social media, writing and teaching) towards their professional development and so becoming a more knowledgeable information professional. A professionally developed librarian needs a developed collection; hence, Chapter 4 is concerned with developing the collection more skillfully, efficiently and cost effectively. Due to the undeniable penetration of information technology-based tools in library work, Chapter 5 examines some issues concerning hardware and software problems and making the library a more secure environment. To access library materials fully and to run serials collection efficiently, Chapter 6 considers cataloguing and serials management with a careful scrutiny. For any reason, a solo librarian may want to staff the library to operate its programs; in this line, Chapter 7 tries to respond to the questions “What are the staffing options for solo librarians?” and “How can staff, if obtained, be trained successfully to assist so they can provide the best service possible for the library’s users?” And finally, as its name suggests, Chapter 8, “Final thoughts on solo librarianship and the future of solo librarians” revolves around some thoughts on how solo librarians can cope effectively with the never-ending problems and challenges of the ever-changing environment of information.

I enjoyed reading this book, which is full of lessons enriched with the experiences of the author and others, many case studies from solo librarians and additional resources for further reading and reference. Writing and publishing such informative heart-warming works can be treated as a stride towards realising the role that libraries can play as information hubs. Paying attention to the book’s content will help solo librarians become a “polymath”, “renaissance man”, or to be more precise, “jack of all trades, master of all”. A variety of audiences including library managers, librarians, researchers and Library and Information Science (LIS) students and professors can benefit from reading Managing the One-Person Library.