Prepared by Ella May Browne , Aminu Aliyu, and Farsat Shafi Ullah

1. EMBRACING OR ADAPTING: POST COVID
LIBRARIES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Starting from end of year 2019, no one was ready for this Pandemic and could not visualised the new normal for aspects of daily human
life. Libraries being centre of learning and experience sharing space in academic and social communities turns to be one of the
foremost front to face the impact.
UNITED KINGDOM
Services started to reduced as of March 2020.
Services changed to online e-book lending and click and collect services.
Home delivery started to be offered, which helped patrons still use the library without having to enter.
Pop up laptop programs made available for users to borrow.
Re-openings of libraries varied across the locally and nationally.
Welsh libraries began to reopen beginning of June, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England reopening in July.
Increased use of online technology since the pandemic, more users wanting e-books compared to pre-pandemic.
Libraries in Northern Ireland used Facebook to help plan and promote program delivery.
Promotion of online book clubs increased.
Increased use of meetings online, at home delivery service.
Libraries since the pandemic have increased their outlook on health and wellbeing programs. For example, wellness corners being set up throughout spaces in the library.
Public libraries need an increased finical backing to be able to continue to great programs that support and promote learning and community for all.
COVID-19 has highlighted the need to increase accessibility to digital technology.
Staff throughout libraries have shown their ability to balance customer service skills, learning new technology to keep patrons involved and in their ever-changing role.
Aminu Aliyu, Ella May Browne, Farsat Shafi Ullah.
New Zealand
In New Zealand the first quarter of 2020 was the time that a complete restricted lockdown was introduced. All the universities and public libraries closed. How ever this lock down exposed not only the
world health system capacity but also exposed the digital equity and internet poverty. To embrace this and adapting the change public libraries in New Zealand used its staff transferable skills and
serve the communities. Following are some of the initiative which public and academic libraries adapted to remains relevant and supported their user communities
· Rearranging the space to accommodate physical distances in libraries. Overall seating capacity was decrease to 30%, Furniture was accordingly arranged, public Wi-Fi was restricted to avoid the
congregation of public outside the Library, Public Computer session time and no of session were reduced to 1 session/30min per visit.
· Staff was divided into three to four teams to run the entry point, front service and computer help. Most collections checkout time was extended to avoid the Virus at workspace, No vaccination/no
job/no services approach, Extended special leaves if staff got affected,
· Training of staff for apps, use of web print/cloud printing, helping customer for devices and app via zoom
· Special one-off copyright relaxation of NZ published material to be used for children story time and its streaming of FB live (no save recordings)
· Collaboration and code signing with local telecom to distribute low cast modems with preloaded internet and top up with low price package, supporting local schools with Ministry of education
prepaid wireless modem to support kids schooling and help financially struggling families to bear the internet bills.
· Special Book a librarian session offered to all community library users for smart devices use, accessing individual medical records, local transport app, online grocery shopping and health related
appointment.
· Availability of 100% personalized devices for staff to work from home.
· Introduction/addition of more electronic resources including streaming service to support the reading and mental wellbeing of library users.
· Special session were arranged within staff teams to share their experience and run the peer learning session to cope with technological and COVID restricted services model demands.
Current scenario.
· Public libraries in NZ faced a big change of merger with community places and Art center to create a new public service called “Connected Communities” which brings some additional non
library staff in workforce including their services in the libraries. This change has its own pros cons however that affect budget, resources, and space utilization for traditional library services.
· Customer demands to cope with digital equity increased significantly which bring libraries back to offer free computer classes, pop up device help, book a librarian not only for reader advisor but
for eBook readers & devices help including keeping device and app 'UpToDate'
· Staff regular training and annual vacations were affected as per policy most staff members has utilized their leaves or this has been lapsed, and now they can only have one month leave balance in
their account. Still 7 days isolation is mandatory of any staff affected
· Many resources were on brink of discontinuation, library fine has been removed and no more library fines, library RFID systems are considered to be removed as financial situation, recent
staffing vacancies are left unfilled or considered to be abolished to save some more money.
NIGERIA
COVID-19 was a tragedy, it caused almost everything stopped moving.
Every sector of life was affected as a result of the imposed lockdown. Universities, Colleges, secondary and primary schools were all put on hold.
There were no teaching/learning activities because there was no adequate preparation for the unexpected lockdown caused by the pandemic, except for in a few places.
Library services were suspended a crossed all types of libraries.
In my library which is an academic library, its services which are largely offered physically were paused.
The library was closed and so its services.
With that all last 3 & half years the life couldn’t be like as it was prior to covid however this
event gives a change to re-thing the resources, services model and libraries approach to be
ready for any future pandemic situation.
COVID hit staff health significantly which resulted in loosing a lot of staff, reduction in their
hours and in some cases library timing reduction
Library regular programs are resuming, however the mode of delivery and number of
participant varies.
Expansion of home bound and outreach services to facilitate the user who were unable to
access library services.
Overall
Covid-19 still impacts our libraries today.
Preparation for another pandemic is underway, but it is
still somehting that can have a certain outcome.
June 11th 2023
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