‘Single staff-member’ scientific library?

Abstract

This article describes experiences of the author who, for thirty years, was running a library of the Institute of Structural Mechanics of the Cracow university of Technology.  A never-ending debate on the subject of ‘single staff-member libraries’ and work conditions of single librarians is of a special importance now, in the era of globalization.  All aspects of this problem should be considered: practical, historical, ethical and social.  Economic calculation is of great importance in the decision-making process, however, one should not ignore neither continuity, purpose, nor other values.  Small scientific libraries will survive tumultuous times as they are created by people of science- for their peers.