Abstract:PurposeThis study examines differences in library use patterns (in-person visits, online use, reference transactions, library resource and services use) pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic through multiple data sets.Design/methodology/approachUsing library statistics collected during 2017/2018 and 2020/2021 and student responses to a biennial library use survey distributed in 2018 and 2021, the potential impact of the pandemic on users' behaviors was explored.FindingsLibrary use statistics and the bi… Show more
“…However, with the pandemic, the study found that the gap in online-only library use between undergraduates and graduates narrowed. Overall, De Groote and Scoulas (2021) found that students' patterns of online library use did not differ significantly during the pandemic.…”
Section: Literature Reviewmentioning
confidence: 87%
“…Unlike Connell et al. (2021), De Groote and Scoulas (2021) discovered a marginal increase in the use of databases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using multiple data sets, this study investigated differences in library use patterns (in-person visits, online use, reference transactions, library resource and service use) prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”
Section: Literature Reviewmentioning
confidence: 98%
“…Several studies have investigated students' use of library resources during the COVID-19 pandemic (Shi et al, 2021;Connell et al, 2021;De Groote and Scoulas, 2021;Dadhe and Balkundi, 2021). Shi et al, 2021 conducted a qualitative study using journaling and in-depth interviews to examine Chinese college students' library use and library needs during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.…”
Section: Covid-19 and Use Of Library Resourcesmentioning
PurposeThis study investigated how students of the Faculties of Humanities and Education and Social Sciences at a Caribbean University sought information during the COVID-19 pandemic, identified challenges they experienced in seeking information for academic tasks and how satisfied they were with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services during this period.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative survey design was adopted for this study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.FindingsThis study revealed that undergraduates relied upon lecture notes to complete assignments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Undergraduate students have developed a definite information-seeking pattern, which did not change during the pandemic. They tend to use information channels that require the least effort. Postgraduate students used a variety of Library information channels but primarily used electronic journals. On the whole, students experienced challenges while seeking information via the channels provided by the Library. Students were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services.Research limitations/implicationsThe study used non-probability sampling and only included students from two faculties at one university. As a result, the findings may not be generalized to the entire student population or all Caribbean universities.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can be used to identify the difficulties students are having in accessing information from the Library and gauge service delivery.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the scholarship from the Caribbean written to show whether students' information-seeking behaviour changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“…However, with the pandemic, the study found that the gap in online-only library use between undergraduates and graduates narrowed. Overall, De Groote and Scoulas (2021) found that students' patterns of online library use did not differ significantly during the pandemic.…”
Section: Literature Reviewmentioning
confidence: 87%
“…Unlike Connell et al. (2021), De Groote and Scoulas (2021) discovered a marginal increase in the use of databases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using multiple data sets, this study investigated differences in library use patterns (in-person visits, online use, reference transactions, library resource and service use) prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”
Section: Literature Reviewmentioning
confidence: 98%
“…Several studies have investigated students' use of library resources during the COVID-19 pandemic (Shi et al, 2021;Connell et al, 2021;De Groote and Scoulas, 2021;Dadhe and Balkundi, 2021). Shi et al, 2021 conducted a qualitative study using journaling and in-depth interviews to examine Chinese college students' library use and library needs during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.…”
Section: Covid-19 and Use Of Library Resourcesmentioning
PurposeThis study investigated how students of the Faculties of Humanities and Education and Social Sciences at a Caribbean University sought information during the COVID-19 pandemic, identified challenges they experienced in seeking information for academic tasks and how satisfied they were with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services during this period.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative survey design was adopted for this study. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.FindingsThis study revealed that undergraduates relied upon lecture notes to complete assignments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Undergraduate students have developed a definite information-seeking pattern, which did not change during the pandemic. They tend to use information channels that require the least effort. Postgraduate students used a variety of Library information channels but primarily used electronic journals. On the whole, students experienced challenges while seeking information via the channels provided by the Library. Students were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the Library's provision of electronic resources and services.Research limitations/implicationsThe study used non-probability sampling and only included students from two faculties at one university. As a result, the findings may not be generalized to the entire student population or all Caribbean universities.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can be used to identify the difficulties students are having in accessing information from the Library and gauge service delivery.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the scholarship from the Caribbean written to show whether students' information-seeking behaviour changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“…The COVID-19 situation brought out various challenges and critical aspects of libraries' leadership crisis management which can be divided into six larger categories ( Graph 1 ). Graph 1 Library leaders' challenges during the COVID-19 crisis (compiled by the author based on Newman, 2021 ; Frederick and Wolff-Eisenberg, 2020, April 2 , Frederick and Wolff-Eisenberg, 2020, December 9 ; Pryce et al, 2021 ; Tsekea & Chigwada, 2020 ; Hosoi et al, 2021 ; Greenhall, 2020 ; Aiwuyor, 2020 ; Connaway, 2020 ; Ashiq et al, 2022 ; De Groote & Scoulas, 2021 ; Connell et al, 2021 ; Temiz & Salelkar, 2020 ). …”
Section: Library Leadership Challenges During the Covid-19 Crisismentioning
“…The pandemic affected libraries in all areas as we begin to see in the research. In this issue, De Groote and Scoulas (2021) used multiple data sources to determine the changes in use patterns due to the pandemic, exploring in-person and online use, services, and resources. Hervieux (2021) took a targeted approach to study the effects of the pandemic on virtual reference services and reflected on the value of virtual services during any type of crisis or building closure.…”
Section: Library Value During Covid-19 and Beyond: Shifting Pivoting ...mentioning
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