Unprecedented times – The state library of Western Australia’s COVID-19 experience

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.