2012 Best Practices for Government Libraries

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BEST PRACTICES 2012
The Unquiet Sea: Solo Librarians in Government Organisations
By Penelope Campbell, Library Manager, Department of Family and Community
Services, Housing NSW
Being a solo librarian in any organization can be like sailing on the “unquiet”
sea. There is always something changing, always something new. Governments
around the world are rapidly changing; looking for ways to save money both
internally and externally. The information/technology environment is changing with
a rapidity that is hard to keep pace with. This paper will be looking at some ideas of
how to provide services with limited time and resources, identifying professional
aspects and who we are as people.
Professional
We are exposed to government in our everyday life, but it is not by osmosis
that we learn how government works. Working for government is more than just
knowing the subject area we are working in. We also need to know how
government works, how policy is developed, the protocols of being a public servant,
and the code of conduct expected of us. Following the protocols and code of
conduct dealing with the public, researchers, students, the media, and of course,
the elected officials are all part of our daily work. The FLICC Competencies for
Federal Librarians
(http://www.loc.gov/flicc/publications/Lib_Compt/2011/2011Competencies.pdf)
includes the competencies, “Agency and Organization Context and Culture”, and the
“Agency's Regulations Policies and Guidelines” that identify what a solo librarian
needs to know about the business of government, and how the organisation works
within both government and society. (The principles behind the competencies are
translatable to other levels of government).
As a public servant, we are working for the good of the people. What is the
good of the people is determined by the elected government of the day. There is no
room to be partisan to a political ideology or party. This does not mean you negate
what your political beliefs are, but it does mean that you have to be aware of what
they are and how they may affect you in your work, especially in the provision of
information.
Librarians are involved with information whether it is the acquisition,
management, dissemination, provision of access, etc. The type of information will
vary, from strategic, business intelligence, historical, analytical, etc., along with the
format such as hard-copy and electronic. Whatever we do as solo librarians, we are
constrained by time, money and resources. Being a solo librarian, we have to
decide how we spend time, money, and resources appropriately to ensure the
smooth running of the library service. The reputation of the library in the
department, all that it covers, rests with one person, you. It is indeed a heavy
responsibility.