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Title:
The New OPL Sourcebook: A Guide for Solo and Small Libraries
Review:
"The New OPL Sourcebook: A Guide for Solo and Small Libraries" is written in an easy, readable style, making it enjoyable to read through the first part in sequence. It is the only book I know of available for One-Person Libraries (OPLs) or solo librarians. Evidently. based on author Judith Siess's experience, it offers a range of practical advice about the difficulties faced by solos.
Solos face some difficult and quite unique problems, which the first half of the book addresses, as well as offering some advice on attacking those problems. Solos can be particularly vulnerable to organisational cuts, for example, and the book features a continual thread on the importance of marketing the information service or library. The book could have been even stronger with case studies and examples of promotional materials.
The New OPL SourcebookFewer anomalies also would have been helpful. At the start is an explanation of what OPLs are and the sectors they are likely to work in, but oddly the largest section of the book covers prison libraries. The section on networking resources for UK solos surprisingly does not include BIALL (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians), although it does include ICLG (Industrial and Commercial Libraries Group) and ASLIB (Association for Information Management). One of the most interesting sections is a 'week in the life' of an OPL.
Siess does provide current, sensible advice, covering time management, budgeting and financial management, although the latter, at only seven pages, feels light. This can be one of the most difficult areas solos face and is not often taught at university. The Sourcebook also contains a comprehensive bibliography and cited resources list, but would have benefited from recommended further reading at the end of each chapter.
The author does provide the means for further research. Part two, taking slightly over half of the book, is devoted to annotated lists of Internet sites listed by topic. The list does contain a few gems, but the publisher missed an opportunity to convert this list to a free website that accompanies the book.
The US bias of the book is more evident in this section than the first part. The entries are an eclectic mixture, ranging from News Resources (minus the BBC) and Law Librarian Resources (without BIALL but with lawyer jokes) and a long section for prison libraries.
The greatest strength of this book is its practicality. It offers anyone new to solo work a good overview of the types of work they will be expected to cover and easily adaptable tips often in bullet points. The author demonstrates a great deal of experience, particularly in the chapters covering time management and communication, and the value of outsourcing some tasks where time is precious.
On the whole, this is a practical book for isolated solos and offers some valuable advice and experience. With a few additions it could move from being simply good to being positively excellent.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Mandy Webster is Library & Information Services Manager at Browne Jacobson and co-author of "BIALL Handbook of Legal Information Management and Knowledge Management: Social, cultural and theoretical perspectives" along with many articles and reviews.
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