Impact of Covid-19 on the Provision of Information Services in Academic Libraries
Main Article Content
Abstract
Covid-19 pandemic is a worldwide crisis, which has affected all aspects of our lives, businesses, social, economic, academic, including libraries. This paper explores the impact of Covid-19 on the provision of information services in academic libraries. The paper is based on an in-depth literature review on Covid-19 and the authors’ observations. The paper views the impact from two perspectives: challenges and opportunities. The major challenges are identified as the closure of the library, transition from physical to online information service delivery, digital divide, lack of policies, and, reduced budget. The opportunities are identified as increased use of Social Media, increased importance of librarians, and professional development through webinars. The paper recommends training, adoption of a hybrid model, disaster planning, investment in e-resources, and inventing a new service model for academic libraries to cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Article Details
How to Cite
JOSHUA, Amogelang; JAIN, Priti.
Impact of Covid-19 on the Provision of Information Services in Academic Libraries.
Zambia Journal of Library & Information Science (ZAJLIS ), ISSN: 2708-2695, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 2, p. 14-27, dec. 2021.
ISSN 2708-2695.
Available at: <https://zajlis.unza.zm/index.php/journal/article/view/69>. Date accessed: 18 apr. 2024.
Section
Library Management
Articles submitted to ZAJLIS should not have been published before in their current or substantially similar form, or be under consideration for publication with another journal. Authors submitting articles for publication warrant that the work is not an infringement of any existing copyright and will indemnify the publisher against any breach of such warranty. For ease of dissemination and to ensure proper policing of use, papers and contributions become the legal copyright of the publisher unless otherwise agreed. The editors may make use of software for checking the originality of submissions received.
Prior to article submission, authors should clear permission to use any content that has not been created by them. Failure to do so may lead to lengthy delays in publication. ZAJLIS is unable to publish any article which has permissions pending. The rights ZAJLIS require are:
- Non-exclusive rights to reproduce the material in the article or book chapter.
- Print and electronic rights.
- Worldwide English language rights.
- To use the material for the life of the work (i.e. there should be no time restrictions on the re-use of material e.g. a one-year licence).
References
Ahmed, F., Zviedrite , N., & Uzicanin, A. (2018). Effectiveness of Workplace and Social Distancing Measures in Reducing Influenza Transmission: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 18 (1). Retrieved June 05, 2021 from 10.1186/s12889-018-5446-1
American Library Association. (2020, June 30). Retrieved June 03, 2021, from http://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/pandemic-preparedness#Responses
Bamidele, I. A., Omeluzor, S. U., Imam, A., & Amad, H. U. (2013). Training of Library Assistants in Academic Library: A Study of Babcock University Library, Nigeria. SAGE Open, 1-10. Retrieved June 07, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013503964
Chewe, P., Zulu, Z., Chitumbo, E., & Musonda, Y. (2020). Enhanced Social Media in the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Anecdote of Academic Libraries in Zambia. Library Philosophy & Practice, 1-13. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/4762
Chisita, C. T. (2020). Libraries in the midst of the coronavirus (Covid-19): researchers experience in dealing with the vexatious infodemic. Library Hi Tech News, 37 (6), 11-14. Retrieved June 13, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-03-2020-0022
Chisita, C. T., & Chizoma, U. S. (2021). Rethinking Academic Library SpaceAdmistthe Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa: Preparing for the future. Information Discovery & Delivery , 49 (2), 105-113. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-07-2020-0087
Connell, R. S., Wallis, L. C., & Comeaux, D. (2021). The impact of Covid-19 on the use of Academic library resources. Information Technology & Libraries, 40(2). Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v40i2.12629
Cuccinotta, D., & Vanelli, M. (2020). WHO Declares Covid-19 a Pandemic. Acta Biomed , 91 (1), 157-160. 10.23750/abm.v91i1.9397
Dadhe, P., & Dubey, M. N. (2020). Library Services Provided During Covid-19 Pandemics Content Analysis of Websites of Premier Technological Institutions of India. Library philosophy and practice (e-journal), 4445. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/4445
Decker, E. N. (2021). Reaching Academic Library Users during the Covid-19 pandemic: New and adapted approaches in access services. Journal of Access Services, 18 (2), 77-90. DOI: 10.1080/15367967.2021.1900740
Fitzgibbons, M. A. (2008). Human Resources Management in the Development of Information Commons in Academic Libraries. Library Student Journal. 3
Frederick, J. K., & Elsenberg, C. W. (2020, December 9). The impact of Covid-19 on Academic Libraries. Retrieved April 19, 2021, from ITHAKA S+R: https://sr.ithaka.org/blog/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-academic-libraries/
Friday, J., Oluchi, C., & Ngozi, C. L. (2020). Social media and Library Services: A case of Covid-19 Pandemic Era. International Journal of Research and Review, 7 (10), 230-237.
Goddard, J. (2020). Public Libraries Responding to the Covid-19, Creating a new service model. Information Technology & Libraries, 39 (4), 1-4.
International Federation of Library Association and Institutions. (2020, October 13). IFLA. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://www.ifla.org/covid-19-and-libraries
IPLF. (2020). Iran Public Libraries Responding to Covid-19. IPLF Guidelines for Reopening Libraries.
Kavanagh, A. (2020). Going Digital: Academic Libraries Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Librarian: The Irish Library, 29 (2), 26-33. Doi:10.21427/6mhq-hk30
Ma, L. F. (2020). Academic Library Services during Covid-19. The Experience of CUHK Library, International Information & Library Review, 52 (4), 321-324. DOI: 10.1080/10572317.2020.1834251
Madhav, N., Oppenheim, B., Gallivan, M., Mulembakani, P., Rubin, E., & Wolfe, N. (2017). Pandemics; Risks, Impacts, and Mitigation. In D. T. Jamison, H. Gelband, & S. Horton, Disease Control Priorities, Improving Health and Reducing Poverty (3rd edition ed.). Washington DC: The International Bank of Reconstruction and Development.
Maponya, P. M. (2004). Knowledge Management Practices in Academic Libraries: A case of the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg Libraries, South Africa
Martzoukou, K. (2021). Academic libraries in Covid-19: a renewed mission for digital literacy. Library Management, 42 (4/5), 266-276. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1108/LM09-2020-0131
Mpofu, N., & Chikati, R. (2013). An Assessment of the Impact of High School Digital Divides to Students Performance at Tertiary Education in Botswana. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 2 (9), 68-71.
Nawaz , N., Gomes, A. M., & Saldeen, M. A. (2020). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications for Library Services and Resources and Resources in Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of Critical Reviews , 7 (18).
Omosor, U. A. (2014). Effect of Technology on librarians in academic libraries in Nigeria. Journal of Information and knowledge management, 5 (2), 203-212.
Onifade, F. N. (2020). Library Services During Covid-19 Period: Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Experience. International Information & Library Review , 320-320.
Online Computer Library Centre. (2020). Library staff learning surges on WebJunction amid COVID-19 closures. Retrieved June 06, 2021, from https://blog.oclc.org/next/library-staff-learning-surges-on-webjunction-amid-covid-19-closures/
Rafiq, M., Bafool, S. H., & Ali, A. F. (2021). University libraries response to Covid-19 pandemic: A Developing Country Perspective. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47(1). Article 102280
Simpson, J. (2016). The Heart of the University: Library Link Location on Doctoral Granting Institutions Webpages and Correlation with Research Output. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 1-6. Retrieved June 13, 2021, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2016.06.011
Skinner, J. (2021, April 1). Libraries and Pandemics: Past and Present. JSTOR Daily. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://daily.jstor.org/libraries-and-pandemics-past-and-present/
Srinuan, C., & Bohlin, E. (2011). Understanding the digital divide: A literature survey and ways forward. 22nd European Regional Conference of the International Telecommunications Society(ITS2011), Budapest, 18-21 September 2011: Innovative ICT Applications- Emerging Regulatory, Economic and Policy Issues.
Stojanovski, J., & Papic, A. (2012). Information Services in Academic Libraries: Browsing Services vs Searching Services. Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems: 23rd International Conference, (pp. 85-90). Varaždin, Croatia.
Tait, E., Matzoukou, K., & Reid, P. (2016). Libraries for the future: the role of IT utilities and transformation of academic libraries. Information Systems & Economics eJournal, 1-9. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from Doi:10.1057/palcomms.2016.70
Tammaro, A. M. (2020). Covid-19 and libraries in Italy. International Information and Review, 52(3) .216-220. DOI: 10.1080/10572317.2020.1785172
Tolppanen, B. P. (2021). A survey of the response of access services in academic libraries to Covid-19. Journal of Access Services, 18 (2), 65-76. DOI: 10.1080/15367967.2021.1871619
UB Facebook page. (2021). Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/University-of-Botswana-Library-264091401868/
The University of Botswana. (2020). UB Adopts Blended Teaching & Learning to Mitigate COVID-19 Impact. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://www.ub.bw/news/ub-adopts-blended-teaching-learning-mitigate-covid-19-impact
Walsh, B., & Rana, H. (2020). Continuity of Academic Library Services During the Pandemic: The University of Toronto Libraries Response. Journal of Scholarly Publishing, 51 (4), 237-245. Retrieved June 07, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.3138/jsp.51.4.04
Williams, L., Rasmussen , S., Kleczkowski, A., Maharaj, S., & Cairns, N. (2015). Protection motivation theory and social distancing behaviour in response to a simulated infectious disease epidemic. Psychology Health and Medicine, 20 (7), 832-837. Retrieved June 13, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2015.1028946
World Health Organisation. (2020). Bordering Africa’s Epicenter: How early action and careful border control policies have so far contained COVID-19 to clusters in Botswana. WHO’s Action in Countries. Retrieved June 09, 2021, from https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/botswana-bordering-africa-s-epicenter---how-early-action-and-careful-border-control-policies-have-so-far-contained-covid-19-to-clusters
World Health Organisation. (2021, April 30). Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) how is it transmitted. Retrieved July 27, 2021, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-how-is-it-transmitted
World Health Organisation. (2021). Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Retrieved April 20, 2021, from https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200423-sitrep-94-covid-19.pdf.
American Library Association. (2020, June 30). Retrieved June 03, 2021, from http://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/pandemic-preparedness#Responses
Bamidele, I. A., Omeluzor, S. U., Imam, A., & Amad, H. U. (2013). Training of Library Assistants in Academic Library: A Study of Babcock University Library, Nigeria. SAGE Open, 1-10. Retrieved June 07, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013503964
Chewe, P., Zulu, Z., Chitumbo, E., & Musonda, Y. (2020). Enhanced Social Media in the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Anecdote of Academic Libraries in Zambia. Library Philosophy & Practice, 1-13. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/4762
Chisita, C. T. (2020). Libraries in the midst of the coronavirus (Covid-19): researchers experience in dealing with the vexatious infodemic. Library Hi Tech News, 37 (6), 11-14. Retrieved June 13, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-03-2020-0022
Chisita, C. T., & Chizoma, U. S. (2021). Rethinking Academic Library SpaceAdmistthe Covid-19 Pandemic in South Africa: Preparing for the future. Information Discovery & Delivery , 49 (2), 105-113. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-07-2020-0087
Connell, R. S., Wallis, L. C., & Comeaux, D. (2021). The impact of Covid-19 on the use of Academic library resources. Information Technology & Libraries, 40(2). Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v40i2.12629
Cuccinotta, D., & Vanelli, M. (2020). WHO Declares Covid-19 a Pandemic. Acta Biomed , 91 (1), 157-160. 10.23750/abm.v91i1.9397
Dadhe, P., & Dubey, M. N. (2020). Library Services Provided During Covid-19 Pandemics Content Analysis of Websites of Premier Technological Institutions of India. Library philosophy and practice (e-journal), 4445. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/4445
Decker, E. N. (2021). Reaching Academic Library Users during the Covid-19 pandemic: New and adapted approaches in access services. Journal of Access Services, 18 (2), 77-90. DOI: 10.1080/15367967.2021.1900740
Fitzgibbons, M. A. (2008). Human Resources Management in the Development of Information Commons in Academic Libraries. Library Student Journal. 3
Frederick, J. K., & Elsenberg, C. W. (2020, December 9). The impact of Covid-19 on Academic Libraries. Retrieved April 19, 2021, from ITHAKA S+R: https://sr.ithaka.org/blog/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-academic-libraries/
Friday, J., Oluchi, C., & Ngozi, C. L. (2020). Social media and Library Services: A case of Covid-19 Pandemic Era. International Journal of Research and Review, 7 (10), 230-237.
Goddard, J. (2020). Public Libraries Responding to the Covid-19, Creating a new service model. Information Technology & Libraries, 39 (4), 1-4.
International Federation of Library Association and Institutions. (2020, October 13). IFLA. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://www.ifla.org/covid-19-and-libraries
IPLF. (2020). Iran Public Libraries Responding to Covid-19. IPLF Guidelines for Reopening Libraries.
Kavanagh, A. (2020). Going Digital: Academic Libraries Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Librarian: The Irish Library, 29 (2), 26-33. Doi:10.21427/6mhq-hk30
Ma, L. F. (2020). Academic Library Services during Covid-19. The Experience of CUHK Library, International Information & Library Review, 52 (4), 321-324. DOI: 10.1080/10572317.2020.1834251
Madhav, N., Oppenheim, B., Gallivan, M., Mulembakani, P., Rubin, E., & Wolfe, N. (2017). Pandemics; Risks, Impacts, and Mitigation. In D. T. Jamison, H. Gelband, & S. Horton, Disease Control Priorities, Improving Health and Reducing Poverty (3rd edition ed.). Washington DC: The International Bank of Reconstruction and Development.
Maponya, P. M. (2004). Knowledge Management Practices in Academic Libraries: A case of the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg Libraries, South Africa
Martzoukou, K. (2021). Academic libraries in Covid-19: a renewed mission for digital literacy. Library Management, 42 (4/5), 266-276. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1108/LM09-2020-0131
Mpofu, N., & Chikati, R. (2013). An Assessment of the Impact of High School Digital Divides to Students Performance at Tertiary Education in Botswana. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 2 (9), 68-71.
Nawaz , N., Gomes, A. M., & Saldeen, M. A. (2020). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications for Library Services and Resources and Resources in Covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of Critical Reviews , 7 (18).
Omosor, U. A. (2014). Effect of Technology on librarians in academic libraries in Nigeria. Journal of Information and knowledge management, 5 (2), 203-212.
Onifade, F. N. (2020). Library Services During Covid-19 Period: Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Experience. International Information & Library Review , 320-320.
Online Computer Library Centre. (2020). Library staff learning surges on WebJunction amid COVID-19 closures. Retrieved June 06, 2021, from https://blog.oclc.org/next/library-staff-learning-surges-on-webjunction-amid-covid-19-closures/
Rafiq, M., Bafool, S. H., & Ali, A. F. (2021). University libraries response to Covid-19 pandemic: A Developing Country Perspective. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47(1). Article 102280
Simpson, J. (2016). The Heart of the University: Library Link Location on Doctoral Granting Institutions Webpages and Correlation with Research Output. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 1-6. Retrieved June 13, 2021, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2016.06.011
Skinner, J. (2021, April 1). Libraries and Pandemics: Past and Present. JSTOR Daily. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://daily.jstor.org/libraries-and-pandemics-past-and-present/
Srinuan, C., & Bohlin, E. (2011). Understanding the digital divide: A literature survey and ways forward. 22nd European Regional Conference of the International Telecommunications Society(ITS2011), Budapest, 18-21 September 2011: Innovative ICT Applications- Emerging Regulatory, Economic and Policy Issues.
Stojanovski, J., & Papic, A. (2012). Information Services in Academic Libraries: Browsing Services vs Searching Services. Central European Conference on Information and Intelligent Systems: 23rd International Conference, (pp. 85-90). Varaždin, Croatia.
Tait, E., Matzoukou, K., & Reid, P. (2016). Libraries for the future: the role of IT utilities and transformation of academic libraries. Information Systems & Economics eJournal, 1-9. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from Doi:10.1057/palcomms.2016.70
Tammaro, A. M. (2020). Covid-19 and libraries in Italy. International Information and Review, 52(3) .216-220. DOI: 10.1080/10572317.2020.1785172
Tolppanen, B. P. (2021). A survey of the response of access services in academic libraries to Covid-19. Journal of Access Services, 18 (2), 65-76. DOI: 10.1080/15367967.2021.1871619
UB Facebook page. (2021). Retrieved June 10, 2021, from https://www.facebook.com/University-of-Botswana-Library-264091401868/
The University of Botswana. (2020). UB Adopts Blended Teaching & Learning to Mitigate COVID-19 Impact. Retrieved June 03, 2021, from https://www.ub.bw/news/ub-adopts-blended-teaching-learning-mitigate-covid-19-impact
Walsh, B., & Rana, H. (2020). Continuity of Academic Library Services During the Pandemic: The University of Toronto Libraries Response. Journal of Scholarly Publishing, 51 (4), 237-245. Retrieved June 07, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.3138/jsp.51.4.04
Williams, L., Rasmussen , S., Kleczkowski, A., Maharaj, S., & Cairns, N. (2015). Protection motivation theory and social distancing behaviour in response to a simulated infectious disease epidemic. Psychology Health and Medicine, 20 (7), 832-837. Retrieved June 13, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2015.1028946
World Health Organisation. (2020). Bordering Africa’s Epicenter: How early action and careful border control policies have so far contained COVID-19 to clusters in Botswana. WHO’s Action in Countries. Retrieved June 09, 2021, from https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/botswana-bordering-africa-s-epicenter---how-early-action-and-careful-border-control-policies-have-so-far-contained-covid-19-to-clusters
World Health Organisation. (2021, April 30). Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) how is it transmitted. Retrieved July 27, 2021, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-how-is-it-transmitted
World Health Organisation. (2021). Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Retrieved April 20, 2021, from https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200423-sitrep-94-covid-19.pdf.