COVID-19 crisis response at the National Library of Israel: Confronting challenges and maximising opportunities

Abstract

Founded in 1892, the National Library of Israel (NLI) serves as the vibrant institution of national memory for the Jewish people worldwide and Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths. Its four core collections – Israel, Judaica, Islam and Middle East, and the Humanities – tell the historical, cultural and intellectual story of the Jewish people, the State of Israel and the Land of Israel and its region throughout the ages. The NLI’s current transformative renewal aims to encourage diverse audiences in Israel and across the globe to engage with these treasures in meaningful ways through a range of innovative educational, cultural and digital initiatives. The most tangible manifestation of this transformation is the new NLI campus, now under construction adjacent to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem, and on schedule to open its doors in 2022. NLI’s renewal and dual mandate requiring it to engage diverse domestic and international audiences, as well as the massive construction project underway, have in many ways magnified the challenges posed by this difficult period, as well as – and perhaps even more so – the opportunities it presents. While the response to these unprecedented and unforeseen circumstances has largely been ad hoc, the NLI approach has been guided by the goal of protecting the health and welfare of its staff and users, and identifying strategic opportunities to not only make the most of the difficulties presented by this complex new reality but also build programs and initiatives to help achieve strategic goals. Following a brief summary of the crisis in Israel, this article presents a number of examples of the physical, logistical and programmatic adaptations NLI has implemented in attempting to maximise potential opportunities in best fulfilling its mission during this time.