Delivering services in the new normal: recording the experiences of UK public library staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

Elaine Robinson; Ian Ruthven; David McMenemy

doi:10.1177/09610006221093371

Delivering services in the new normal: recording the experiences of UK public library staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

Elaine Robinson, Ian Ruthven, David McMenemy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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30 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a survey undertaken in December 2021 and January 2022 related to public library staff in the United Kingdom and their experiences of COVID-19, exploring the lockdowns that were enabled, the subsequent re-openings, their mental health, and their views for the future of the service post-COVID-19.
Over 200 responses were received, and the findings indicate a range of views. The importance of the library as a community resource is evident in the comments from staff, and their observations of patrons on library re-openings. Findings also indicate concern for the future of the library service, and fear that new technologies like e-books may be seen as adequate replacements for the traditional library service. Findings also indicate staff face stress and mental health issues in terms of dealing with patrons while the virus remains highly prevalent.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	617-633
Number of pages	17
Journal	Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
Volume	55
Issue number	3
Early online date	7 May 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221093371
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 7 May 2022

Keywords

COVID 19
public libraries
service provision

Access to Document

10.1177/09610006221093371Licence: CC BY 4.0

Robinson-etal-JLIS-2022-Delivering-services-in-the-new-normalFinal published version, 257 KBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Downloading a new normal - privacy, exclusion, and information behaviour in public library digital services use during COVID
McMenemy, D. (Principal Investigator) & Ruthven, I. (Co-investigator)
AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council)
18/12/20 → 17/02/22
Project: Research

Cite this

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AB - This paper reports the results of a survey undertaken in December 2021 and January 2022 related to public library staff in the United Kingdom and their experiences of COVID-19, exploring the lockdowns that were enabled, the subsequent re-openings, their mental health, and their views for the future of the service post-COVID-19. Over 200 responses were received, and the findings indicate a range of views. The importance of the library as a community resource is evident in the comments from staff, and their observations of patrons on library re-openings. Findings also indicate concern for the future of the library service, and fear that new technologies like e-books may be seen as adequate replacements for the traditional library service. Findings also indicate staff face stress and mental health issues in terms of dealing with patrons while the virus remains highly prevalent.

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Delivering services in the new normal: recording the experiences of UK public library staff during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Keywords

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Downloading a new normal - privacy, exclusion, and information behaviour in public library digital services use during COVID

Cite this