Effects of COVID-19 on Disaster Planning in Academic Libraries

COVID-19 impact on the Chinese top academic libraries: Libraries' response to space, collection and services

“…The following are the reflections on what can be considered for development now and in the future based on findings and previous studies, the authors recommend that libraries (1) create comprehensive disaster planning and emergency preparedness in cooperation with libraries around the world ( Kehnemuyi, 2021 ; Wijayasundara, 2021 ); (2) implement sustainable, permanent changes to library services and operations ( Heady et al, 2021 ; Runyon & Steffy, 2021 ); (3) embrace digital tools and technologies like enhance remote access infrastructure and digital skills, intentionally integrate more digital resources into the collection and more virtual services into the workflow; (4) develop a unique repository collection that can archive and preserve the practices, thoughts, events and literatures of experiencing the unprecedented situation around COVID-19 and previous disasters where future generations can learn from past generations ( Farne et al, 2021 ; Mehta & Wang, 2020 ), and finally, (5) develop emergency management of the “new normal” agenda for librarianship both as part of their course requirements and as compulsory industrial training among Library and Information Science undergraduates that prepares them for becoming library and information professionals. As Heady et al (2021) discuss, rather than a return to a pre-pandemic normal operating procedure, this can be a time to innovate and create a new normal that positions academic libraries to better weather future storms.…”

When Disruption is the New Normal: The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Technical Services in US Academic Libraries

“…21 A study of the types and aspects of contingency plans that proved effective during the current emergency would be highly relevant so that academic library technical services units will be able to apply best practices in disaster planning when the next global crisis occurs. 22 While there are many methodological and future research questions that are worth exploring further, analysis of the survey results above clearly helps provide interested librarians and library managers with a baseline understanding of the pandemic's effects on technical services units in US academic libraries. Daily demands of COVID-19 response led to significant disruptions to normal operations while libraries worked to continue providing core functions and services, now often virtually, for their user communities.…”

Information-seeking behaviour of students at a Caribbean University during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…As a result, several studies have been conducted to determine how libraries fared during the COVID-19 pandemic (Condic, 2021; Ibacache et al. , 2021; Kehnemuyi, 2021).…”

“…Many academic libraries were forced to quickly adapt to changes during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize risk and provide information resources in a restricted online environment. As a result, several studies have been conducted to determine how libraries fared during the COVID-19 pandemic (Condic, 2021;Ibacache et al, 2021;Kehnemuyi, 2021).…”

“…At the same time, others buried the information in news announcements or updates that scroll across the page. Kehnemuyi (2021) further examined how libraries were treated with this natural disaster. In order to understand whether academic libraries were creating or revising existing disaster plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kehnemuyi developed a survey and sent it to three academic library listservs.…”