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Goal. The goal of the paper is to show the implementation of library services in the homes for older adults in the city of Zagreb during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to June 2022. Approach/methodology/design. Library services in homes for the older adults in the city of Zagreb are implemented within the Books at your door programme of the 65 plus project at the Zagreb City Libraries. The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have made it difficult to design and implement library services for older people in libraries. Due to the protection of health, particularly large restrictions have been placed on contacts with elderly people in homes for the older adults. As a result of this challenge, the librarians have devised ways to stay in touch and provide library services to the home users during periods of greater and lesser restrictions on access to the homes. Results. The paper describes in detail the implementation and the results of the Books at your door programme from March 2020 to June 2022. Library services and various cultural programs that were carried out during the pandemic in homes for the older adults, organized by the Zagreb City Libraries, are presented and described. The results are based on and supported by the statistical data from the annual reports of the 65 plus project. Originality/value. The cultural activities that are carried out for the older adults by the libraries, sometimes in difficult business circumstances, are examples of good practice aimed at sensitizing the public and increasing care for the well-being of the elderly people. The experiences gained during the implementation of the Books at your door programme in difficult conditions during the pandemic can help experts and practitioners in designing library services in times of crisis. The data recorded in this paper also represent a kind of public archive on the cooperation between libraries and homes for the older adults in the Zagreb area during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2023, Hrvatsko Knjiznicarsko Drustvo. All rights reserved.
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Public libraries needed to quickly address the new challenges brought by COVID-19 to continue their services. This study aimed to understand innovative public library services during the pandemic and provide a typology that represent their services. Twitter messages of 12 large public libraries were analyzed to identify library services. A total of 751 Tweets were coded with thematic tags by service types and innovative approaches. Using the social innovation typology by Winberry and Potnis (2021), their typology was revised to show public libraries' innovative services under the emergency circumstances. The findings suggested significant differences within social innovation categories and newly emerged themes. The revised social innovation typology developed from Twitter data during the pandemic includes nine major categories of public libraries' innovative service types and provides updated insights into how public libraries continue to serve as important community resources using innovative approaches. The revised typology will be useful for future research in describing future innovation and assessing the endurance of pandemic-era service innovations.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the recommendations of the international library communities and the modern legislative framework in the Republic of Croatia on issues of copyright and related rights regarding libraries and e-lending. In 2021, a new Copyright and Related Rights Act entered into force in Croatia, and in recent years, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, more attention has been paid in the literature to the concept of the so-called Controlled Digital Lending (CDL) which helps fulfil the mission of libraries in supporting research, education and participation in cultural life within the limits of existing copyright laws. The CDL allows the library to circulate a digitized title instead of a physical copy, provided that the loan must take place in a controlled manner: the loan may contain as many copies of the title as the library has legally acquired. As a concept, CDL is an interesting and suitable solution for the uninterrupted provision of library services in cases of extraordinary circumstances such as a pandemic. Given that has its roots in the American legal system that is significantly different from European legal framework of copyright, IFLA in the Statement of controlled loan e-books (IFLA Statement on controlled digital lending) published in June 2021 recommends considering the application of the CDL in the framework of national legislation, so the paper will present the position of the international library community on lending e-books expressed in the Declaration and consider the possibilities of e-lending and digital copying of printed books and its lending according to the CDL concept in the context of the new Copyright and Related Rights Act and in general within the framework of contemporary Croatian and European legislation.
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Purpose: This paper aims to find out the digital services of management libraries provided during the library closure and the challenges and initiatives the libraries have taken up to fulfill the need of their user community during the pandemic crisis. Design/methodology/approach: To meet the purpose of the study, the investigators have used a survey method. An online questionnaire was devised and administered among the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) librarians using Microsoft Forms. Findings: The study's findings suggested that all the libraries under investigation must avail of various digital library services in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Further, the investigators recommend that libraries formulate a disaster preparedness and management plan in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic so that libraries can prepare themselves for the future. Originality/value: The pandemic has affected every aspect of life and changed the digital library services scenario. Thus, it is essential to examine the role libraries have played during the COVID-19 pandemic and distinguish the challenges and initiatives libraries have taken to tackle the problems they faced. This study has been conducted on the digital library services that were provided by the libraries of IIMs. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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This chapter assesses the practice of benchmarking in Nigerian libraries, with a focus on academic libraries. Participant observation, questionnaires, and focus group interviews were methods used to establish the situation. Results show that standards are not fully developed and implemented among libraries in the country. Benchmarks are hardly even mentioned. However, there is interest among university librarians in knowing more and implementing benchmarks which can improve the delivery of library services. The inadequate response to COVID-19 is a clear indication of the preparedness of libraries in the country. Prevention of dire effect of future pandemics or disruptions will require intentional preparedness. Nigerian librarians, especially the academic librarians as leaders, must take responsibility for improving on the present situation by taking advantage of their global networking. The regulatory body, Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria, must also step up in preparing and monitoring the implementation of benchmarks in libraries. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Providing online services and assistance to library users has become the standard practice of many libraries worldwide. It has prompted many institutions to develop strategic actions to remain relevant in the absence of physical services. Although there are numerous initiatives among public libraries for teens, there is limited literature about the provision of online services and assistance for teens during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study seeks to highlight the services, efforts, and initiatives of Qatar National Library, specifically its Young Adult (YA) Section, in planning and implementing virtual services to address the information needs of teens during a pandemic. Additionally, this study will present information that might help library professionals design their own library plans and programs to serve young adults virtually. This paper takes a quantitative approach to share the library's experience organizing various online events and reference services for youth development amid limited access to physical services. This case study includes information about user feedback, highlighting the teens' experience with the library's virtual programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Public Library Quarterly is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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The world social frameworks have been trembled with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, irrespective of organization. The Covid-19 has fueled technology trends that continue to dominate daily life activities in various organisations and library services inclusive. Covid-19 has become a driving force that accelerates of technological adoption and usage in academic libraries. The adoption and use of ICTs for quality services delivery to clientele in academic libraries is germane especially in Covid-19 era. Libraries are saddled with responsibility to provide unrestricted access to information and resources at all times but libraries all over the world closed services to users due to Covid-19 pandemic. This paper examines transformation of academic library services towards information users' satisfaction in Covid-19 era. The paper discusses the history of Covid-19 and activities of sections in the academic library in terms of collections, services, spaces and operations in pandemic period. The paper explores the emerging role of social media in academic libraries in Covid-19 era. In addition, the paper covers new normal approaches to personnel security, social distancing, and sanitation of collections. Among recommendations are: creating a perfect environment where humans and robots can work together, and upgrading of library websites to serve as a primary path of interaction for library users.
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Purpose: Year 2020 recorded an unprecedented bewilderment of the world with novel COVID-19, thereby threatening global food security. As such, there is need for academic libraries in Nigeria to provide information regarding food security to users to ensure post-COVID-19 food security. This study, therefore, aims to reflect on the role of academic libraries in facilitating post-COVID-19 food security in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: Descriptive research design of survey type was used for the study. Librarians and library officers in academic libraries in south-west Nigeria were considered for the study. Self-structured online questionnaire was sent to the respondents via social media. The data generated were analysed using frequency count and simple percentage. Findings: It was found that academic libraries performed significant role during the COVID-19 period by disseminating online information on preventive measures, and supporting research team with information on the pandemic. The study further found that the services of academic libraries are strongly required in facilitating post-COVID-19 food security, even in the face of some challenges. Practical implications: In the face of the looming COVID-19-induced food shortage, it becomes evident that academic libraries have to support individuals, farmers, research teams and organisations with information and information resources that can help in accomplishing global food security. Social implications: Failure of academic libraries to offer the required support in terms of provision of necessary information resources on agriculture may make the attainment of COVID-19 food security difficult. Originality/value: Ensuring post-COVID-19 food security is an issue of global concern. This study encourages academic libraries to expedite action to contribute towards ensuring post-COVID-19 global food security. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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This scoping review examines the techniques used by academic librarians for outreach to distance learning faculty From 533 initial records, librarians included 16 articles and identified five recurring themes: in-person visits, synchronous workshops, electronic communication, branding and personalization, and campus partnerships. Despite the prevalence of literature about outreach and marketing in academic libraries, there has been little research on connecting with distance education faculty. This review highlights the need for continued exploration of this topic, including how the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to blur what it means to be a distance learning faculty. © 2023 Elsevier Inc.
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The services of medical libraries and information centers has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to identify the innovative services of medical libraries and information centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this scoping review, PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, ProQuest, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA) databases were searched to identify case studies and case series. After screening the identified studies, 18 studies were selected. The results showed that the main users of medical libraries and information centers during COVID-19 were health care providers and recipients, researchers, organizational staff, and ordinary library users. Innovative services during the COVID-19 were also provided in these libraries, including distance education services, virtual information services, virtual guidelines, providing information resources, and evidence-based response to treatment teams. To provide these new services, medical libraries used traditional, semi-traditional, and modern information and communication technologies such as telephone, email, online library platforms, e-learning, and social networks. Medical libraries and information centers changed the way they provide services in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Analyzing the services provided during this period can provide a model for policymakers, and medical librarians and information professionals to improve their services. The information presented here can be used to inform library services during future, similarly critical situations.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Libraries, Medical , Library Services , Humans , Pandemics , Information CentersABSTRACT
This paper explores how public libraries in the United Kingdom were impacted by the lockdowns imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Freedom of Information requests were made to all UK public library services. The data received indicated that almost 65% of UK library services saw a reduction in physical loans of between 70% and 90% of pre-pandemic borrowing levels. The cumulative data also revealed that almost 120 million books that were issued in pre-pandemic years were not issued in the 2020/21 lockdown period. Meanwhile, 47% of library services saw their e-loan provision rise between 100% and 200% on pre-pandemic levels, although these numbers rose from a low base and were comparatively small when measured against physical loan losses. The data also highlighted that active membership of the public library services (members who had borrowed an item in the previous year) dropped to 40% of pre-pandemic levels across the UK. The evidence highlights that while e-loan provision rose significantly while physical library services were largely unavailable, this rise was from a very low base, and this rise in digital usage did not come close to mitigating the drop in physical borrowing that occurred across the UK. The findings of the paper suggest that even when the public had no choice but to move to digital, they did so in limited numbers when compared to usage of physical library buildings and collections. © 2022 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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The functional diversity in Extremadura is researched by comparing the problem in the media with the norma-tive activity. It also delves into its relationship with in-formation units. The objective is to discover whether the official regulations accompany the social problems reflected in the media. To do this, we investigated the news about functional diversity published in the DOE (Official Gazette of Extremadura), as a normative me-dium, and in the HOY newspaper of Extremadura, as a global communication medium, to see their differences regarding geographical area, terminology and typol-ogy, topics, temporal evolution, and relationship with the information units;and, finally, we delve into this last aspect. The research was carried out during 2020, co-inciding with the crucial period of the health pandemic caused by COVID19, which was a handicap for all citi-zens and, especially, for people with disabilities. Among the general results, a volume of news about functional diversity is obtained, very much in favour of HOY (1344 news) to the detriment of the DOE (29 news). A slight opening towards the outside is also ob-tained, a slight use of the term "functional diversity " and a greater thematic diversity in the HOY newspaper. As for the information units, there is a very low percentage of news (40, all in the HOY, 2.91%), the most frequently mentioned information units are libraries (70%) and the most recurrent theme is "Employment " (42.5%). It con-cludes with a lack of accompaniment on disability be-tween the political regulations and the social problems reflected in the media. It also concludes with the need for greater involvement and visibility in the media of the role played by information units in relation to helping the most vulnerable groups.
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This multimethod study investigates differences in question complexity and type between live chat, email, and texting by comparing findings from user interviews and virtual reference transcripts, with the goal of better understanding how different delivery methods can meet user needs in the context of an academic library. Findings reveal dissonance between perceptions and use of chat and email. Interviews suggest users consider chat to be for basic queries whereas transcripts coded using the READ Scale, a well-known reference assessment tool, show question complexity to be highest in chat. Our analysis also found statistically significant differences in the presence of reference interviews and instruction for chat, email, and texting. Rebranding chat more explicitly for intermediate and advanced queries may succeed in attracting users who consider chat only for basic queries, thus narrowing the gap between user perceptions and actual use.
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This article begins with a brief description of access and affordability and their relationship to equity, diversity, and inclusion within the higher education sector today. Because the authors work at a Jesuit Catholic institution, awareness and appreciation of the call to uphold access and affordability at Jesuit institutions are also important. COVID-19 institutional and library impacts are summarized, followed by the identification of pandemic-created opportunities for the library to demonstrate commitment to institutional values and align with institutional and library strategic directions and priorities. Descriptions of initiatives launched in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years to advance access and affordability are provided, accompanied by profiles of campus partnerships that ensured the success and sustainability of these initiatives. Finally, the authors consider the challenges and benefits of constructing and maintaining campus partnerships to improve access and affordability for students and the components of effective campus partnerships.
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Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) is the second largest school district in Tennessee. With 159 schools, 79,651 students, and 126 languages spoken, the student population is incredibly diverse, not only culturally but also socio-economically. MNPS shifted to virtual learning in late March 2020 on the heels of devastating tornadoes that ripped through the community on March 3, which abruptly caused the closure of schools. The early days of the pandemic were spent searching for hope amidst the devastation experienced by the community as it was cleaned up and re-built with the shadow of COVID-19 looming. With the start of the 2020-2021 school year, MNPS had to restore and increase access. The MNPS team of 130 school librarians were not only thinking about how to provide equitable services to their students and school communities, but together were also were thinking about how to provide equitable services across the district. This article shares how MNPS re-invented reading by breaking old rules and creating new ways to provide book access and support student literacy during virtual and hybrid learning.
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This study analyses the techniques and procedures that were developed and the changes that took place in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), both in Mexico, and the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), in the United States of America. To face the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, librarians in these institutions improved their Information Literacy (IL) and Media Information Literacy (MIL) programmes. Design/methodology/approach: This study has a mixed methodology with a comparative analysis. For this purpose, data shows the universities' contexts: the communities of students, teachers, researchers, and librarians, and the e-learning strategies of IL and MIL programmes. Findings: As part of the results of the crowdsourcing collaboration between the UMD, UNAM and BUAP, the study shows the different online learning communities and their innovations. Originality: Although there is theoretical knowledge about IL and MIL in Mexican universities and University of Minnesota Duluth, the e-learning strategies used by their librarians in this document sought to provide technical solutions and other options for a virtual work scheme that responded to the specific problems presented by COVID-19. In this case, the framework for creating online library services was designed by their librarians for their communities in the context of the current crisis, even when online services had already been established for more than ten years. Research limitations/implications: The technological infrastructure, the professionalisation of the library staff and a lack of knowledge of the new virtual teaching-learning needs. Practical implications: Analysis of tools for virtual teaching-learning services, description of strategies used by library staff, results and feedback. Social implications: IL and MIL strategies created in a variety of contexts can be enhanced by library collaboration in a fully virtual setting. Libraries with better technological infrastructure play a decisive role.
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In an academic set up the ‘library' plays a pivotal role. It stores, analyses, interpret and disseminate information among the users to fulfil their information needs. It has been observed that recent technological advancement has revolutionised library services to a great extent. Now libraries are providing both physical as well as web-enabled library services to their users. In this context, library websites act as a major gateway in providing web-enabled library services. The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the physical mode of library services. However, to support the ongoing teaching and learning process, libraries need to continue their services despite the lockdown. Therefore, the present study seeks to find out whether academic libraries are ready and adequately equipped to perform basic services during this critical juncture. The present study was directed towards exploring the readiness among the academic libraries by assessing their websites based on selected evaluation criteria. Hence, in this study top, 100 NIRF ranked institutes websites were examined by adopting 30-point evaluation criteria. These criteria were selected from the extant literature. These criteria were grouped into 04 categories i.e., basic website information, resource discovery, availability of resources and reference services. The readiness index of each library was calculated based on the availability and non-availability of the said criteria. The findings of the study reveal that 64 per cent of the libraries have failed to secure their score of 50 per cent on predefined criteria. It was also found that the preparedness index is independent of NIRF ranking. Overall findings of the study make it clear that academic libraries need to improve and up to date their web-based services to play a proactive role in the present and post-pandemic situation.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entire human race's routine and put a temporary halt to global interactions. This epidemic has also had a negative influence on academic libraries. This is one of the most serious consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for academic libraries, particularly at Malaysia's Institute of Teacher Training. It also, predictably, gives libraries the potential to shift their traditional role in offering services by utilizing the most up-to-date technologies. The purpose of this study was to show how academic libraries use social media platforms to deliver library services, highlighting the importance of strong and structured collaboration to reach customers during this epidemic. At the same time to increase users in the virtual world, promote library services and activities in a more engaging way. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
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Academic library websites are considered an integral tool for disseminating libraries' information, resources, and services. It also encourages users to interact and use library resources and services remotely. The spread of COVID-19 and the nationwide lockdown shifted the education system to an online mode of teaching and learning. The present study aims to analyse the usability criteria of the Central Universities' library websites, the availability of various facilities & services provided during the pandemic, to know the mode of information dissemination during the pandemic, andthe preventive measures undertaken by the Central University library websites to combat the Corona Virus.The study reveals that Aligarh Muslim University and the Central University of Orissa have adopted all possible means and modes to provide information to its users to combat the struggles during the pandemic through their library websites. However, certain Central University websites like the Central University of South Bihar have provided the least services for their users during the pandemic. The study also highlighted the essential steps initiated by the selected libraries to fulfill the information needs of their users, and those services may be opted by others to meet the post-lockdown needs.
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This article attempts to evaluate the library services and facilities during the pandemic situations in Pakistan. This study is fashioned in positivistic tradition of quantitative research design, and a cross-sectional research method was employed. The objective of the study was to examine the library services available to students and faculty members in two public sector academic libraries in Pakistan. A complete list of students and faculty members was collected from the concerned offices along with their WhatsApp numbers and email address. A total of 1736 students and faculty members sampled through proportionate random sampling technique and filled the questionnaire out of 7835. The inclusion criteria to participate was based on enrolled students of public and private sector university, passed at least one semester of BS (4 years) and MA/MSc (2 years) programme in Pakistan, and faculty members using library resources. A structured questionnaire to measure the response of library patrons and consisted of exogenous and endogenous variables and pretested. The study findings showed that COVID-19 pandemic situations affected educational institutions at a large scale. The social distancing rule was opted to minimise the risk of infection and university libraries were also closed down. However, due to online learning transformation, library materials were digitalized and online library services were provided to students and faculty members.