One-person libraries are a very distinctive type of information center. They may often be found in businesses, corporations, non-profits, and academic departments. They usually have a set of collections and only one person to maintain the physical library’s contents and processes, and to attend to the needs of its clients and patrons.

Managing the one person library requires that a solo librarian be a multitasker who can play many roles, potentially able to perform cataloging, reference and research, acquisitions, collection development, accounting, vendor relations, report writing, and IT, possibly all on the same day! Depending upon the industry or environment in which the library is placed, it could require that the librarian be a subject matter expert in the field of the industry while also serving as one of the main researchers, providing information for reports and marketing materials. One thing is for sure, it can be very challenging for the librarian to wear all the hats required in this type of situation. The variety and challenges can also be very rewarding. For those doing this type of work, some important things to keep in mind include:

• Manage your portfolio of services, knowing which ones to advance, which to phase out, and which to introduce for long-term growth.
• Spend more time on the critical projects and say ‘no’ to the low-priority demands.
• Promote your service to clients and management without great expenditures of time and resources.
• Cultivate relationships with the ‘influencers’ in the organization.
• Talk and think in business terms, and be fluent in the special terminology/jargon of your clients/patrons.
• Know Your Power Chart. Identify the players and lines of positive and negative power within your organization.
• Build Alliances/Partnerships. Based on your power chart and your relationships build alliances with the other players in your organization.
• Understand & Use the Process. Get a picture of how decisions are usually made and what processes are used.
• Do Your Homework. Find out what the issues/objections will be. Talk to those on your power chart. Be flexible and make changes if needed. Give credit to those who come up with a better solution.
• Get Feedback from everyone, making sure to draw out those who are quiet. Use gossip to access underground power circles to assess your position.
• Don’t Waste Time Undermining Enemies when you can spend it building stronger alliances. Always maintain your integrity and honesty.
• Use Consensus and Compromise. Practice using small steps to garner consensus rather than pushing projects through relentlessly.
• Don’t be a Bomb Thrower. Don’t raise serious issues or considerations at the time when decisions are being made.
• Be a Team Player. Contribute and once a decision is made, support it.
• Give More Credit to Your Allies & Supporters Than You Give to Yourself. Politics should never ultimately be about ego. As Teddy Roosevelt said, “The most practical kind of politics is decency.”

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