Best Practices in Library Management During Covid-19 Pandemic: Case of The Library, The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)

Abstract

Libraries all over the world has been compelled to impose certain restrictions limiting their services to the users and introducing alternative approaches for the delivery of library services and resources as a response to the situation created by pandemic. This paper explains how the library of the Open University has dealt with the situation and continued to provide services to its stakeholders. The case study method was used in the study, and data collection was done through observations, from the library website and various other documents available at the library. The study identified the ways that could transmit the virus in the library namely; books with the virus, infected patrons and staff, accordingly the Virus transmission triangle was introduced, with a view of taking measures to control the virus transmission Major measures taken by the OUSL library were reducing the number of users visiting the library, enhancing online inquiry service to provides a better service, introducing strict sanitary measures, keeping records of library users, changing book circulation process, a self-check-in kiosk, rearranging furniture to ensure social distancing, developing e-library editions etc. In addition, the staff of the library has been encouraged to work from home, enabling them to provide their respective services even at a time when the university is closed. The library was able to develop an Open Education Resources (OER) collection because of the adoption of the Work from home concept. This pandemic situation emphasized the importance of identifying and implementing new approaches by all institutions of the world to make sure continuous service for their stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the institution.