A chorus of solos

1
A chorus of solos

• Studying the effects of library intranets on solo
  librarians working as part of a larger library
  organisation

2
Context

• Solo librarians have no professional peers in the
  immediate work environment (Siess, 1999)
• However, there are some types of solo-working
  librarians who are part of large library
  organisations, but day-to-day work is in a solo
  library
• These workers have access to their peers through
  some physical contact, but increasingly by
  technological means
• Intranets could provide this virtual community
  chorus
• Purposes of intranet include internal
  communication, collaborative working (Griffiths,
  2004)

3
Literature Review

• Solo librarianship not adequately represented in
  information science literature
• Prolific writers include Judith Siess (based in
  USA)
• Most prominent publication is the practical
  journal One Person Library (published in USA)
• Dearth of literature concerning librarians who
  work by themselves, but for large library
  organisations
• There is an acute need for research and
  discussion into our chosen subjects

4
Objectives

• Assess the working relations of solo librarians
• Investigate the effect of a library intranet
• Compare public and academic library sectors

5
Research design

• In-depth literature search
• Design of sampling strategies
• Questionnaire to staff in Oxfordshire Oxford
  University libraries
• In-depth interviews with small sample of staff

6
Timetable

• January Devise questionnaire
• February Identify sample for questionnaire
• March Send out questionnaire
• April Analyse results and identify interviewees
• May Carry out interviews
• June Analyse results
• July Write and disseminate report

7
Deliverables

• Report, to be sent to participants and their
  managers
• Add value to intranet based on results of
  questionnaire, survey and comparison of the two
  sectors

8
References

• Siess, J., (1999) Flying Solo Librarian, manage
  thyself, American Libraries, Vol. 30 (2), pp.
  32-34.
• Griffiths, P. (2004) Managing your internet and
  intranet services The information professionals
  guide to strategy, Second edition. London
  Facet.