This article explores the response of the Science and Engineering Library team at Manchester Metropolitan University to the Covid-19 pandemic. It examines how the team's experience supporting distance-learning programmes acted as both a dress rehearsal and a road map for Library provision during the pandemic. In particular, the changing role of staff members whilst operating in the Covid-19 setting is carefully reflected upon. The article is structured into three sections, discussing support for distance-learning programmes, distance learning and Covid-19, and the changes Covid-19 prompted within the team's operation. 19 pandemic and will cover three major themes: support for distance-learning programmes before Covid-19; the pivot to distance learning from March 2020 onwards; and reflections on the Covid-19 distance-learning experience and how it altered the roles within the team. Throughout, we will draw the distinction between students enrolled on distance-learning programmes and those enrolled in traditional face-to-face classes. The