One-Person Library as an Object of Study

Abstract

There are many different types of libraries and librarians. In smaller libraries, often there is only one employee, solo librarian, in charge of all aspects of library work, from cataloging to reference-bibliographic service and from budgeting and planning to personnel management. In international practice, the term One-Person Library (OPL) is used to designate such libraries with one employee. Working alone places special demands on library professionals. Therefore, in the late 1970s, the solo librarianship movement arose in support of OPL employees abroad, which practically was almost unknown in Russia. According to some estimates, OPLs are about a third of all libraries in the world. The relevance of this topic is unquestionable, since the number of OPLs worldwide will only grow. It is the overall trend. The purpose of the work is to give general information about OPLs and show their specific features. The article is a review of foreign publications devoted to the problems of librarians and information professionals who work alone or solo. Not intended to be exhaustive, this review can serve as an introduction to the topic and outlines the main problems faced by this segment of the profession. Among the specific problems the author considers multitasking and lack of time, professional isolation and perceived lack of opportunity for professional growth, the threat of reduction and, as a result, the need to constantly demonstrate their value to management. Despite the difficulties, working alone has its advantages. The most obvious of them are independence in decision-making, diversity, an opportunity to prove themselves and develop new skill sets (managerial, leadership, communication). The author expresses the hope that this work will attract interest in the problem of OPL functioning and will serve as an incentive for further discussions of this topic in the professional library community.