Success as a Lone Arranger: Setting Priorities and Getting the Job Done

Abstract

The archivist who works alone in a repository, rather than as part of a team–the so-called “Lone Arranger”—has the responsibility of handling all areas of archives management, including appraising, accessioning, processing, arrangement and description, reference, and outreach. This essay describes one real-life situation, in which the normal challenges of the Lone Arranger have been compounded by poor environmental conditions and previous long periods with no professional staff managing the archives. The archivist describes how she uses computer databases that she has created for accessioning and for tracking reference use, and as finding aids in fulfilling reference requests. She also describes a series of microfilming and digitization projects that she has undertaken as a strategy to broaden access while at the same time preserving vulnerable holdings. These may also have the added benefits of freeing up time currently spent on reference, allowing her to spend more time on other important tasks.

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