<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:

def _lookup_first(dictionary, key):
    '''
    Lookup the first value given a key. Returns the first value if the key
    refers to a list or the value itself.

    :param dict dictionary: The dictionary to search

    :param str key: The key to get

    :return: Returns the first value available for the key
    :rtype: str
    '''
    value = dictionary[key]
    if type(value) == list:
        return value[0]
    else:
        return value