Librarians’ Response During COVID-19

Abstract

The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has caused librarians to rethink how they can contribute to their respective communities. In addition to forcing libraries to shutter their doors and requiring librarians to work remotely, the pandemic has given rise to new and more urgent needs for health-related resources. The changes in librarian working conditions, patron access, and increased needs for health resources and information have meant that physical and digital resources and services have been creatively reimagined to provide necessary resources. Makerspaces have been repurposed to create personal protective equipment for the community, library catalogs have been expanded to provide inventory control of items not part of the usual library inventory, and librarians have worked to provide necessary information for health care professionals and the public. This article describes the efforts of librarians to repurpose their resources and services to better serve their communities in the time of the COVID-19 crisis.

Keywords:

• Coronavirus
• COVID-19
• makerspaces
• 3D printers
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• plastic face shields
• head bands

Notes

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