Use the below to install python libraries that “normally” would be installed in a system directory such as /usr/local/lib/pythonX.Y. Use the --user flag with the pip tool to install to a directory you have control over as a user. Here are more details:

• --user installs in the directory specified in site.USER_SITE
  • example: ~/.local/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages
• add this folder to your PATH (in ~/.bash_profile file):
  • export PATH=$PATH:~/.local/lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages

Here is an example:

pip install --user mypackage

An alternative to this is to use python virtual environments

Sources:

• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/42988977/what-is-the-purpose-of-pip-install-user
• https://packaging.python.org/tutorials/installing-packages/#optionally-create-a-virtual-environment