Public libraries and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Kosciejew, Marc

doi:10.1177/0340035219898708

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 121 publications

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“…In such a global context, service industries like libraries and information institutions have a significant role to play. A body of literature reports on the responses of libraries to global pandemics and disasters (Chisita, 2020; Fitzgerald, 2020; Jæger and Blaabæk, 2020; Kosciejew, 2020; Ocholla and Ocholla, 2020; Rachman, 2020; Tammaro, 2020; Zarocostas, 2020).…”

Section: Review Of Relevant Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Public libraries’ responses to a global pandemic: Bangladesh perspectives

2021

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The whole world is experiencing a new reality – the global outbreak of COVID-19, which has forced every institution into lockdown. This study aims to explore the responses of the government public libraries of Bangladesh. An online questionnaire was used to gather primary data from all of the 71 public libraries, which was followed by semi-structured interviews with eight librarians. The analysis suggests that more than 50% of the libraries had a low level of preparedness to face any crisis, and none of the libraries were fully prepared to manage this pandemic. All of the libraries were open for administrative functions without physical access to users. The study found that 52% of the libraries created public awareness through social media, while 46% supported local government organizations and 40% provided counselling services. Considering the existing challenges, the study recommends some measures for the public libraries of Bangladesh to cope with this situation.

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Section: Review Of Relevant Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Public libraries’ responses to a global pandemic: Bangladesh perspectives

2021

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“…To begin, the health and well-being of communities can be bolstered by libraries and information centres and their contributions to public health efforts and initiatives. There is a rich literature on libraries’ and information centres’ addressing, anticipating and responding to diverse health information literacies and needs of individuals and communities (Dalrymple and Galvin, 2020; Flaherty, 2013; Flaherty and Grier, 2014; Grier, 2010; Kosciejew, 2020; Linnan et al , 2004; Luo, 2018; Morgan et al , 2016; Morgan et al , 2017; Morgan et al , 2018; Rubenstein, 2016a, 2016b, 2018; Whiteman et al , 2018; Whitney et al , 2013; Yong, 2015).…”

Section: Libraries’ Interventions In Public Health Emergencies and Disastersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Libraries, and particularly public libraries, “can provide free access to credible, quality health information to help inform individuals about their personal health, as well as inform their communities about health issues, treatments and other resources” (Kosciejew, 2020, p. 7). Although “health has not historically been at the centre of their missions, libraries occupy a unique place in public life, making them powerful partners for building a culture of health” (Morgan et al , 2016, p. 2033).…”

Section: Libraries’ Interventions In Public Health Emergencies and Disastersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The coronavirus pandemic, libraries and information: a thematic analysis of initial international responses to COVID-19

Kosciejew

2020

GKMC

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Purpose This study aims to present and discuss the international library and information community’s initial responses to the coronavirus pandemic. It chronicles official statements from various library and information associations as they were released in real-time, thereby providing a contemporary and historical snapshot of the early stages of this global health crisis. The aim is to both historically and thematically contextualize these initial responses to help establish a foundation upon which to anchor, build, extend and analyze approaches to the pandemic as it unfolded (and indeed as it continues to unfold at the time of this writing in June 2020). Design/methodology/approach Drawing upon a qualitative documentary analysis of statements on COVID-19 released by various international library and information associations, this study provides a thematic analysis of these contemporary policies. Specifically, this thematic analysis was carried out to identify and illuminate major themes appearing within the statements. Further, a comparative thematic analysis was then undertaken to compare the themes across all statements to discover and determine convergences or divergences in content and coverage. Findings The formal statements released by these organizations feature and share many similar themes in their initial responses to COVID-19, including support for/solidarity with libraries; information provision; maintaining services; digital migration of services; workplace arrangements/concerns; contextual contingencies of libraries (diversity of kinds, circumstances and challenges); health concerns and proper/good hygiene; countering dis/misinformation; external collaborations with public health agencies; and partnerships with industry including publishers. Research limitations/implications Although this study’s purview is admittedly limited in size and scope – involving six, albeit major, library and information associations from mainly English speaking countries – it can be used as a foundation for further studies into how libraries and information centres in other English and non-English speaking countries responded to the coronavirus pandemic. Practical implications This study can help inform current, alternative, contingency or other future library responses geared towards or tailored for the coronavirus or other health-related crises. It can also be used as a baseline to track the trajectory of library responses and actions as they unfolded throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Social implications By providing the start of an account and analysis of the international library and information science (LIS) community’s initial responses, this study also contributes to the broader (ongoing) conversation about the coronavirus pandemic and intervenes in emerging historical examinations of this crisis. This study could be of interest to LIS scholars and practitioners, in addition to public health researchers, public policymakers, cultural studies academics and historians, interested in how different and intersectional efforts – in this case, the international LIS community – contributed and can contribute to this pandemic and other similar or parallel crises. Originality/value The international library and information community’s initial responses to this global health crisis are contextualized, thereby serving as a foundation upon which to anchor, build and extend other research on responses to the pandemic as it unfolded. Drawing upon a qualitative documentary analysis of these statements, this study presents and discusses the international library community’s initial responses to the coronavirus pandemic. It chronicles these statements as they were released in real-time, thereby providing a contemporary and historical snapshot of the early stages of this crisis. The aim is to both historically and thematically contextualize the international library and information community’s initial responses to help establish a foundation upon which to anchor, build, extend and update the international library community’s responses to the pandemic as it unfolded (and indeed as it continues to unfold at the time of this writing in June 2020). This foundation, it is hoped, will help illuminate their respective positions, circumstances, convergences, divergences and areas of possible (future) cooperation, coordination and collaboration.

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“…But, a clear transition has been noticed among students and faculty members in using the VRSs more than before. Libraries can deliver free access to reliable and quality health information to inform the community about health matters, relevant treatments, measures and other resources (Kosciejew, 2020). EWUL is not only disseminating health measures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic but also making people aware about the misinformation and fake information surrounding the pandemic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digital library services to support online learning amid COVID-19: a study of a private university library in Bangladesh

Begum

Elahi

2022

DLP

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the East West University Library’s (EWUL’s) response to COVID-19 situation through their transformation to digital services. The paper tries to explain how these digital library services support the user community of East West University (EWU) in online teaching and access to information resources. Design/methodology/approach This paper describes the EWUL’s several digital services that are used to meet the needs of its user community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reflective practice approach has been undertaken for this study on the basis of the authors’ personal experiences working at an academic library. The authors used the reflective practice approach to assess the library’s practice during crisis situation, make the use of technological interventions in service providing and also to re-innovate the digital services for future. Findings During the pandemic, the library shifted all the possible physical or on-site services to digital services, i.e. online resource facilities and remote access to these, federated searching, Web online public access catalog, engaging users through social media, specialized knowledge space, online document delivery, article on request, information literacy training, virtual reference service, etc. The user engagement in all these services is also notable. Research limitations/implications The nature of this study is limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and within a particular geographic location. Practical implications This paper has implications and possible applications for other university libraries in developing countries, which intends to transform their services into digital for ensuring better service quality for their respective user community. Originality/value This paper makes a valuable contribution to the literature on how a private university library of a developing country is responding to pandemics such as COVID-19.

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Public libraries and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Cited by 33 publications

References 121 publications

Public libraries’ responses to a global pandemic: Bangladesh perspectives

Public libraries’ responses to a global pandemic: Bangladesh perspectives

The coronavirus pandemic, libraries and information: a thematic analysis of initial international responses to COVID-19

Digital library services to support online learning amid COVID-19: a study of a private university library in Bangladesh

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