Decision-Making by and for Academic Libraries during COVID-19

Abstract

Academic libraries are fundamental in promoting equitable access to education but are often overlooked and underfunded. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified these inequities. This study investigates how 39 library deans and directors perceived decision-making by university administration during COVID-19's onset. Open-ended survey questions were sent to deans and directors asking them to describe their experiences working with university administration to adjust library services during the crisis. Some library leaders reported that working closely with other departments strengthened their campus connections. Others commented that disagreement between library personnel and university administration caused discord. Some deans and directors were forced to cut staff funding or felt pressured to reopen, while others were trusted to choose their budget and service priorities. The authors recommend that library leaders be more consistently relied upon for their expertise during university decision-making.

Investigating the optimisation of South African university library budgets in an austerity environment.

“…To illustrate this point, Simba Information, an industry market analysis firm, agrees that "academic library budgets are essentially flat and concluded that overall sales of scientific and technical books and journals decreased by 1.6% in 2016" (Bosch, Albee & Henderson, 2018:29). Fitzgerald et al (2023) in agreement retorted that despite their significance within universities, academic libraries are frequently overlooked and inadequately funded.…”