{"title":"Library Websites During the COVID-19 Pandemic","authors":"E. E. Mnzava, A. S. Katabalwa","doi":"10.1177/09557490211058869","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490211058869","url":null,"abstract":"The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to impact the business environment in different ways. The current paper presents how the university and research library websites in Tanzania responded to the changes in the working environment and style following the outbreak of COVID-19. This study employed a content analysis method to collect and analyse data from academic and research library websites in Tanzania. This study focuses on how library websites in Tanzania were used to update and connect library users with relevant information resources and services during the outbreak of the COVID-19. The findings show that 12 of the 24 library websites had the opening and closing hours, two university library websites had information related to the outbreak of the COVID-19 and 12 had no information related to the outbreak of the COVID-19. This study has an important practical implication for the academic and research librarians on the effective use of library websites for information sharing and communication.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122678434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Libraries and the Covid-19 pandemic","authors":"Martyn Wade","doi":"10.1177/09557490211011854","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490211011854","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"68 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114581825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unprecedented times – The state library of Western Australia’s COVID-19 experience","authors":"Margaret Allen","doi":"10.1177/0955749020985341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0955749020985341","url":null,"abstract":"The State Library of Western Australia was forced to close to the public under a declared State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 56 days of full closure, the Library quickly adapted services to meet restrictions, collected COVID-19 related material, transitioned some staff to working from home and undertook collection-related projects and minor refurbishment works. The Library had maintained a current pandemic plan, but significant decisions about service closure, risks and responses and strategic human resource considerations were made at the highest levels of government. Although not considered essential services enabling them to remain open to the community, the State Library and public libraries in Western Australia were among the first services to reopen within strict protocols under a staged lifting of restrictions. Social media was an essential tool in staying connected with the community, providing advice about service changes, delivering online services and engaging the community to secure donations of COVID-19-related material for the Library’s collections. Difficulties in collecting material efficiently and quickly about the Western Australian experience of an event of global significance were highlighted. Transitioning some staff to working from home arrangements presented policy and technology challenges and highlighted a digital divide for Library staff including their lack of access to appropriate technology at home. Although the pandemic is ongoing and uncertainty still exists, the COVID-19 experience is informing collection development policy, digital service delivery direction, human resource policies and advocacy.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"261 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121155322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Royal Danish Library and Corona","authors":"S. Larsen","doi":"10.1177/0955749020980370","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0955749020980370","url":null,"abstract":"The article briefly describes lockdown and reopening of the Royal Danish Library. The corona crisis has emphasised the primacy of the digital. Digital collections and digital services are more important than ever and are foundation stones of the library’s strategy for digital transformation.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"69 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116359330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jolene Shirley, Blessing Mawire, Musa Baloyi-Sekese
{"title":"COVID-19 and the National Library of South Africa: Adapting to the new normal","authors":"Jolene Shirley, Blessing Mawire, Musa Baloyi-Sekese","doi":"10.1177/09557490211002095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490211002095","url":null,"abstract":"The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) like many libraries and institutions has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its approach has been that of deciding to embrace the change, adapting to an approach of working with stakeholders and focusing on how the future can best be forecasted so that the work done now can have a greater impact. The NLSA shares its experiences, learnings and approaches for this new normal and hopes this sheds light on how national, and all, libraries can adopt a culture of continuous growing and adapting whether in a pandemic or not.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133368049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"COVID-19 crisis response at the National Library of Israel: Confronting challenges and maximising opportunities","authors":"Zack Rothbart","doi":"10.1177/0955749020980140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0955749020980140","url":null,"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.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"49 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114430617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Public libraries as a vital social function or something we can do without in times of crises. The Swedish reaction to Covid-19","authors":"Elisabet Rundqvist","doi":"10.1177/09557490211002741","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490211002741","url":null,"abstract":"During the COVID-19 period, Swedish public libraries have gone through five phases, which diverge, noticeably from many other European countries. During the first phase of the pandemic, most public libraries stayed open. The week before Christmas 2020 most public libraries where temporally closed. The roll of public libraries in the local community was under debate, could the local community do without libraries?","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"57 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127495878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"National and University Library of Iceland: Covid-19 – Challenges and solutions","authors":"I. Sverrisdóttir","doi":"10.1177/0955749020980287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0955749020980287","url":null,"abstract":"The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, in the National and University Library of Iceland, is described, and also some lessons learned.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130872555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Libraries in lockdown – the experience of Innerpeffray Library, Scotland","authors":"Lara Haggerty","doi":"10.1177/0955749020985161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/0955749020985161","url":null,"abstract":"Lara Haggerty is Keeper of Books at Scotland’s first free public lending library, the Library of Innerpeffray. A library of national significance, in a very rural location, Innerpeffray is now a museum that relies on volunteers for its day-to-day operation and visitors for income. Lara describes a library in lockdown from a different perspective.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129164443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coronavirus pandemic in Slovakia – The National Library’s experience","authors":"K. Katarina","doi":"10.1177/09557490211002094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490211002094","url":null,"abstract":"The article summarizes the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the operations of the Slovak National Library in 2020 and describes the challenges and oppotunities that it has brought.","PeriodicalId":431623,"journal":{"name":"Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues","volume":"71 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126275463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}