One-Person-Librarian

1. Job Quiz

2. Nature of the job 2.1 Personal background and work experience 2.2 Tasks of an OPL 2.3 Disadvantages of the job

3. Library organisation vs. library management 3.1 Studies on special libraries/OPL 3.2 Main requirements for an OPL

4. Tools to gain the big picture 4.1 Be sure of your role in your organisation 4.2 Know tasks and workflow in your library 4.3 Guidelines provide protection 4.4 Time management 4.5 Networking 4.6 Continuing education 4.7 Co-operation and outsourcing

5. Enjoy the big picture – advantages of working in a theological library

By Elke Siemienski

Tasks of an One Person Librarian (1)Acquisition

• Holdings check• Information about new titles• Bibliographic reference• Applications• Overdue notices• Correspondence• Delivery control• Processing bills• Processing of donations• Exchange of publications• Stock record• Budget managing• Annual closing of account• Bookbinding lists• Acquisition of periodicals• Acquisition of continuation records and

loose-leaf publications

Stock exploitation

• Descriptive cataloguing• Subject indexing (classification and subject

heading)• Shelf-register/Filing• Serial cataloguing• (Card catalogues: card printing, filing)• Book preparation: • Label printing• Foliation

Tasks of an One Person Librarian (2)Library using

• Responding to requests (e-mail, telephone, letter post)

• Literature research• Acquisition lists• Book circulation• Shelving• Searching for missing books• Circulation file• Reserve collections• Reference service• Library introduction• User introduction• Inter-Library-Loan• Photocopying

Collection maintenance and Miscellaneous

• Inventory• Deacqusition • Duplicate lists, duplicate exchange• Book repair• Databasemanagement• Library regulation• Public Relations• Team Meetings in institute• Annual, monthly reports• Statistics• Developing of forms • Library planning (mission statement/overall

concept)• Collection development policy• Developing of manuals• Connecting with partner institutions• Training for volunteers• Office organisation: corresponding,

telephone calls, filing• ….

Remember:

An OPL is NOT the downsized version of a large library system but an “Allround-Business in One Hand”

D r a w b a c k s

Professional isolation

Lack of support

Lack of feed-back

Lack in education

Facing too many tasks the same time

Poor working conditions

The need of a high level of accepting frustrations

Feeling guilty of not beeing able to „do it all“

Not being appreciated by non professional

colleagues

Much stress

Difficulties to report to non-librarians

Guidelines Provide Protection

Mission statement of the library Collection development policy Clear authority structures Job description Library regulations …

Time Management

1) Siess, Judith: Time Management, Planning, and Prioritization for Librarians. Lanham, Md. 2002

2) Patterson, Karen: Time Management.

http://www.libsci.sc.edu/bob/class/clis724/SpecialLibrariesHandbook/time.htm

3) Peterson, Lisa C.: Time Management for LibraryProfessionals. Chapel Hill, NC.1997http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/review.old/5/peterson.html

4) Morgenstern, Julie: Time Management from the InsideOut. New York, NY. 2004

Networking

Participating conferences and local meetings

e.g. Conference for Theological Librarians

Email discussion lists /Newsletters, e.g.

Libnet libnet@bibliotekar.net

Verband kirchlich-wissenschaftlicher Bibliotheken / ArbeitsgemeinschaftKatholisch-Theologischer Bibliotheken: kibib@yahoogroups.de

Special Library Association (USA) www.sla.org/content/community/lists/index.cfm

Association of British Theological and Philosphical Librarieshttp://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/abtapl.html

Australian and New Zealand Theological Library Associationwww.anztla.org/mailman/listinfo/anztla-forum (members only)

NetworkingWeblogs

http://oplbb.blogg.de/

www.webjunction.orghttp://opls.blogspot.com/

http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/solo_division_blog/

Library Associations

General Library Associations

Berufsverband Information Bibliothek e. V.

www.bib-info.de

American Library Association (ALA)

www.ala.org

Special Library Association (SLA)

www.sla.org (Membership, discussion list free)

Networking

Theological Library Associations

American Theological Library Association (ATLA)

www.atla.com

Association of Bristish Theological and Philosophical Libraries

www.abtapl.org.uk

Librarians‘ Christian Fellowship

www.librarianscf.org.uk

Fellowship of Christian Librarians and Information Specialists

www.folis.org

European Theological Libraries

www.theo.kuleuven.be/beth

Australian and New Zealand Theological Library Association

www.anztla.org

Continuing Education

www.libraryhq.com/resources.html

http://sla.learn.com/learncenter.asp?id

www.plc.fis.utoronto.ca/courses_webbased.asp

www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html

www.webjunction.org

www.sirsidynixinstitute.com

www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/dl/opportunities.html

www.bibweb.de

www.loc.gov/catworkshop

www.loc.gov/marc/uma/