Thriving in the post-Covid-19 era: a new normality for libraries' service offering

Abstract

PurposeSocial distancing and physical closure triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic put the libraries' viability under stress. Although the spread of the pandemic enacted a new normality for library management, little is known about the ingredients that are needed in the recipe for increased libraries' attractiveness. The article addresses the current gap in the scientific knowledge, unveiling what libraries can do to thrive in the post-Covid-19 era.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data were collected from the census study accomplished in 2020 by the Italian Institute of Statistics on a large sample (n = 3,531) of libraries operating across Italy. Three regression models were run to obtain evidence of the factors affecting the capability of small-, medium- and large-sized libraries to attract users amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.FindingsDigitization did not significantly add to the attractiveness of libraries. Users appreciated the enrichment of loan services: more specifically, enabling people to access loan services online boosted the libraries' attractiveness. Furthermore, virtual reading groups, online laboratories and social networking improved the libraries' ability to attract users. Medium-sized libraries involved in literacy promotion reported a larger number of users.Practical implicationsLibraries should reframe their encounter with the audience sticking to a cyber-physical perspective, exploiting digital tools to establish a continuous exchange with users and engage them in a service experience which is aimed at individual and collective empowerment.Originality/valueThe article advances the understanding of the new normality heralded by the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, it illuminates avenues for further development to shed light on the libraries' ability to thrive in the post-pandemic era.

Formation of Image Communications of the Library in the Modern Information Space

“…R. Palumbo (2022) is looking for the specifics of running virtual reading groups, online laboratories, and social networks that improve the image of a modern library and actively attract users to it during the Covid-19 pandemic.…”

A kulturális diverzitás megjelenése nemzetközi projektcsapatokban – A virtuális és személyes részvételű csapatmunka összehasonlító elemzése

“…A más kulturális háttérrel rendelkező emberek megértésének képessége egyre fontosabb kompetencia hazai és nemzetközi szinten egyaránt. A COVID-19 világjárvány és a digitális technológiák gyors fejlődése alapjaiban változtatta meg a multinacionális szervezetek működését és így, a felsőoktatást is (Grozdics, 2022;Palumbo, 2022;Udvari & Vizi, 2023). Az addig manuálisan ellátott feladatokat felváltotta a digitalizálás, a személyes, élő interakciókat pedig a virtuális szintér (Davis & Fill, 2007;Barnes, 2020;Ratten, 2023a;Tiwari et al, 2021;Liu et al, 2023).…”

Intercultural Communicative Competence in Virtual and Face-to-Face Teamwork: A Quantitative Analysis of Culturally Diverse Teams

“…Thus, internationalization strategies need to address the development of intercultural competence components in various ways. These could be established during the course of one's education, for example, course work, study abroad, and on-campus interaction with students from different cultural backgrounds; and improved within the organizations, with cross-cultural training, mobility, and diverse team settings (Ratten, 2023a;Palumbo, 2022;Baber, 2021;Tiwari et al, 2021;Barnes, 2020;Allen et al, 2019).…”