Emerging Roles of Libraries and Librarians During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This chapter highlights the challenges and opportunities that have and will arise as a result of the epidemic. When the spread of CoronaVirus 2019 (COVID-19) was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO), most schools, colleges, and tertiary institutes around the world were ordered to close so as to contain the spread. Currently, most learning institutions are experiencing challenges related to how to provide critical services; the most critical ones are linked to the library services. With the COVID-19 pandemic still in place, it is evident that libraries will greatly be affected in their service delivery. This chapter, therefore, brings into perspective the eminent changing roles of libraries and the challenges and opportunities that did and will emerge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides different library case studies and how the COVID-19 pandemic is being handled in Kenya, Morocco, and Hungary. The chapter puts into perspective new insights that will enable libraries to adapt quickly to the new technologies substituting the obsolete and redundant ones.

State of public libraries in Morocco

“…The image that libraries had in the past as storage for books is no longer the case. According to Otike et al (2021), "the roles of librarians and information professionals have been challenged and questioned" (p. 11). Moreover, Otike et al (2021) assert that in the present digital era, there is a significant role of librarians and information professionals to help extract and find accurate and reliable information to the people in a friendly manner.…”

“…According to Otike et al (2021), "the roles of librarians and information professionals have been challenged and questioned" (p. 11). Moreover, Otike et al (2021) assert that in the present digital era, there is a significant role of librarians and information professionals to help extract and find accurate and reliable information to the people in a friendly manner. The authors indicate that the role of libraries nowadays is to be able to "advocate the advancement of information literacy related to new technologies and media to help the users to independently detect the accuracy of information in the nearest future" (Otike et al, 2021, p. 12).…”

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

“…It's worth noting that the aforementioned surveys were conducted in the early months of the pandemic and reported on initial experiences. Most recent studies (see Leung et al, 2021 ; Otike et al, 2021 ) also reported user perceptions and roles of libraries and librarians in the post-epidemic era. However, the status of their patron services is in the process of dynamic changes, it is difficult to cover comprehensively, none have been carried out ranging from prior, during, and the normal COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Challenges and Activities of Professional Librarians’ Associations, Particularly for Association of Hungarian Librarians before and during COVID aera

“…[…] Hence, libraries and librarians must move out of their comfort zones, and ensure they are with them." (Otike, Fredrick Wawire et al, 2021)…”