Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report and to regulate the users’ documentary necessities of six Mexican universities involved, in a cooperative manner and during the period of confinement by SARS-CoV-2, through the Document Delivery Service (DDS). Design/methodology/approach A diagnostic was conducted within the participating institutions that considered the information resources and sources, documents requested and the number of users per institution, which were counted daily for one month. This research used documentary and quantitative methods. Findings The authors determined that DDS is a reliable service for information supply although it is going to be necessary to adjust legal schemes and interlibrary loan policies to develop a process and to adapt this one to the current information services in the future or “in our new normality”; DDS will have a high impact on the conformation of networks of librarian cooperation. Originality/value This study exposed the importance of DDS as a relevant service to provide information on demand by using information and communication technologies, which is a safe way to operate, avoiding exposure to physical contact, ensuring the continuity of research processes in the communities and always monitoring and promoting the copyright.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze to what extent the strategic actions implemented by the libraries contribute to the containment of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, without compromising the quality of library services for their learning communities. Design/methodology/approach The research has a mixed methodology: qualitative and quantitative with a technique of documentary review and statistical analysis of data through FanPage Karma software. The documents are public and are part of the teaching programs of the universities, webinars and courses given through accounts and official sites of the Mexican Federal Government, social networks, as well as groups of experts in national and international librarianship. Findings The research documents and describes the library services that have emerged in libraries since the quarantine and isolation period established by the Ministry of Public Education. It also shows the strategic actions adopted by universities (their advantages and disadvantages) and the digital competencies of the library professionals to meet the information demands of their communities. Additionally, actions implemented to provide a rapid response are discussed so that they can later be improved to have a comprehensive framework for improving quality in the remote library service. Originality/value This research contributes value to the field by critically analyzing libraries’ distance services, their innovations and the necessary professional competences required to achieve the institutional academic goals. Additionally, relevant services in the digital context are described.