Libraries in the time of COVID-19 – our stories
LIANZA has been collecting stories from librarians around the country about their responses and adaptations to COVID-19 challenges. From public to tertiary to special, once again, librarians have shown themselves to be resourceful, imaginative and caring.
Public LibrariesVirtual Storytimes
Many public libraries around New Zealand have been engaging their communities by offering ‘virtual storytime’ sessions over the last few weeks. Virtual storytimes were made possible by a unique agreement between publishers, authors and libraries coordinated by the Coalition for Books. LIANZA approached the Publishers Association of NZ (PANZ) and Copyright Licensing NZ (CLNZ) the week prior to libraries being closed for Level 4. The aim was to enable New Zealand public libraries to provide virtual storytimes during the pandemic, while ensuring New Zealand’s copyright laws were not breached. With the assistance of the LIANZA Standing Committee on Copyright, an agreement was reached with the Coalition for Books, and the agreement was made public two days into Level 4. |
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There have been over 400 public library virtual storytimes registered, as per the agreement, showing that this initiative has been key in allowing public libraries to engage with their communities.
Librarians swung into action from their living rooms around the country to offer virtual storytimes to enable some sense of normalcy and solace for children stuck at home (and parents juggling work with childcare!). Using the books they happened to have at home, and guided by the list of publishers that generously gave permission for their books to be offered in this virtual format, nearly 360 wonderful storytimes have now been offered by public libraries. With some marvellous backroom support from family and friends in the same ‘bubble’, some of these storytimes are very slick productions indeed!
Stephen Clothier, children and youth services librarian at Waitohu/Wellington City Libraries, is one librarian relishing the opportunity to combine his love for technology and his passion for storytime. Along with many of his colleagues at Wellington City Libraries he’s been using Facebook Live to read stories and sing songs or ‘Quarantunes’ to their young customers.
Librarians swung into action from their living rooms around the country to offer virtual storytimes to enable some sense of normalcy and solace for children stuck at home (and parents juggling work with childcare!). Using the books they happened to have at home, and guided by the list of publishers that generously gave permission for their books to be offered in this virtual format, nearly 360 wonderful storytimes have now been offered by public libraries. With some marvellous backroom support from family and friends in the same ‘bubble’, some of these storytimes are very slick productions indeed!
Stephen Clothier, children and youth services librarian at Waitohu/Wellington City Libraries, is one librarian relishing the opportunity to combine his love for technology and his passion for storytime. Along with many of his colleagues at Wellington City Libraries he’s been using Facebook Live to read stories and sing songs or ‘Quarantunes’ to their young customers.
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Helen Heath from the LIANZA Office spoke with Stephen via Zoom, you can watch the recorded interview, along with a Quarantune (left). Libraries also responded to the challenges of the pandemic using their Makerspace resources. We interview Jamie Boorman, Waitohi's makerspace specialist, who has been 3D printing face shield components for frontline health care workers in New Zealand. (Below left). Finally we've put together a short montage of just a few of the nearly 400 virtual storytimes that have been offered by public libraries since the end of March (Below right). |
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Stephen Clothier
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Libraries in Wellington and Christchurch, who have already faced the issues that physical closures bring post-earthquake, seem particularly resilient and resourceful responding to the challenges posed by the pandemic. But librarians all around New Zealand have been adjusting to this new way of living. Vicky Cawkwell from Howick Library in Auckland recently shared some more personal reflections on self-isolation over on Libraries Aotearoa.
LIANZA are partnering with Victoria University of Wellington to investigate the experiences of the virtual storytimes including the benefits and challenges from the perspective of all stakeholders. Public library storytimes represent an important showcase for New Zealand books and publishing. The research will also explore how libraries have worked with publishers and authors to adapt New Zealand’s copyright laws in the face of the lockdown restrictions of COVID-19. The research project has begun with the collection of social media data which will be analysed to ascertain audience reach and response and authors/publishers involved, and more information will be gained from surveys and interviews with viewers, librarians and other stakeholders.
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Wā Kōrero: Digital Storytime at Christchurch City Libraries
Elaine Sides, Content Manager, Libraries and Information Unit describes how Christchurch City Libraries responded to the opportunity to offer virtual storytimes in lockdown:
For many years Christchurch City Libraries has run an extensive and successful programme of Storytimes and Babytimes in its 21 libraries located across the city. These sessions include stories, music and conversation. They are well attended by families from diverse backgrounds. It does not take long before many young children recognise the presenters as someone they know, love, and trust.
Once we went into lockdown, we wanted to be able to provide something in the digital space which built on the existing relationships we had with young families, and offer content in a way children recognised and engaged with. This included being able to read some of our favourite New Zealand picture books. To do this we needed copyright agreement and this was something we did not have the skill or resource to actively pursue.
We were delighted to hear when a collective agreement was reached between authors, publishers and libraries. I wish to acknowledge the work done by the Coalition for Books – work that was supported by LIANZA, Copyright Licensing NZ and the Publishers Association of NZ. This enabled us to focus on the structure for each session, what books we were going to read, and how we were going to capture each session digitally.
Just over a week later, we had our first three sessions available through Facebook, and via our library’s website. Since then these sessions have been watched by many young families. They have been captivated by the story, the presenter’s delivery, and a sense of normality. The number of hits and shares on our Facebook pages indicate that these sessions have been popular, and families are looking for more.
We are now in the process of producing more sessions, while at the same time rising to the challenges of what it takes to deliver and record these stories while working in isolation.
For many years Christchurch City Libraries has run an extensive and successful programme of Storytimes and Babytimes in its 21 libraries located across the city. These sessions include stories, music and conversation. They are well attended by families from diverse backgrounds. It does not take long before many young children recognise the presenters as someone they know, love, and trust.
Once we went into lockdown, we wanted to be able to provide something in the digital space which built on the existing relationships we had with young families, and offer content in a way children recognised and engaged with. This included being able to read some of our favourite New Zealand picture books. To do this we needed copyright agreement and this was something we did not have the skill or resource to actively pursue.
We were delighted to hear when a collective agreement was reached between authors, publishers and libraries. I wish to acknowledge the work done by the Coalition for Books – work that was supported by LIANZA, Copyright Licensing NZ and the Publishers Association of NZ. This enabled us to focus on the structure for each session, what books we were going to read, and how we were going to capture each session digitally.
Just over a week later, we had our first three sessions available through Facebook, and via our library’s website. Since then these sessions have been watched by many young families. They have been captivated by the story, the presenter’s delivery, and a sense of normality. The number of hits and shares on our Facebook pages indicate that these sessions have been popular, and families are looking for more.
We are now in the process of producing more sessions, while at the same time rising to the challenges of what it takes to deliver and record these stories while working in isolation.
Library solutions to lockdown
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Public libraries have offered a range of unique solutions to the lockdown challenges faced by their communities.
Waimakariri Libraries serves communities in Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Oxford across the rural plains of Canterbury. Paula Eskett, District Libraries Manager says the libraries started recording virtual storytimes almost immediately. Virtual Babytimes and Preschool Storytimes have been very popular with 11,900 engagements for the first session alone. The library staff had to respond quickly and rise to the challenge – one of the team had never been on Facebook before but managed to get online with the help of her son. Another popular resource has been Samoan language lessons with Beth and Silika Tavui and their dog Joey, who got 1,300 views for the most recent episode on Facebook. This really demonstrates the changing demographic of this district library service. Interestingly, Paula says the biggest reach seems to be quite late at night – 11pm.
Waimakariri Libraries have also offered an e-librarian email service, which helps clients with getting online, technical issues, and anything other needs and also introduced a new service called ‘Direct to Your Device’, with recommendations for e-resources. Being rural is an advantage as the library service is close to Christchurch but still independent. There are lots of commuters in the district and there has been a surge in membership, digital access and online database use. The latest innovation from Waimakariri Libraries has been the start of a contactless book collection service ‘My Book Bag’, which started on Friday May 1, after a considerable amount of behind-the-scenes planning and work. My Book Bag allows Waimakariri Library members to safely borrow books, using a contactless collection system, or in the case of the elderly or those with immunity issues, the library arranges for delivery of the books. |
Happy My Book Bag Customers
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Over 200 'My Book Bag' orders at Rangiora Library on May 5.
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Patrons complete an online form where they can select a general genre-focused bag, or else they can request a more customised selection of books which a librarian will curate for them. The libraries have bags for preschoolers through to adults and each bag contains ten books. To ensure the safety of patrons, library staff wear gloves when selecting and handling the books. The books are then placed outside the library and patrons come at a pre-arranged time to collect their bag.
Paula explains, ‘My Book Bag has involved staff on many different levels – some staff have been in the libraries selecting the books and ensuring they get to the patrons, others are calling the many people who ordered to confirm their pick up times, others have been involved with the creation of the web page, and the promotion of the service.’ The book bag service has been supported by the Waimakariri Aquatic Facilities staff who are helping ensure social distancing criteria are adhered to in a caring way, and Rangiora New World who provided 200 bags. The service has been phenomenally popular with hundreds of orders coming through in the first six days. In other rural areas, such as the Far North District where 34% of households don’t have internet access, library staff called customers on the phone to check in with them and see how they could provide support. Far North District Libraries have worked innovatively to build engagement online. The library service emailed borrowers for the first time in 13 years encouraging engagement. |
When online membership applications were opened up there were over 40 sign-ups on the first night, which is huge for their small library service. Far North District Libraries has had a team of librarians on the phones connecting elderly residents in particular, in addition to an e-library team calling back customers with technical questions, explaining eBooks but also just making those important social connections.
Every year Nelson City Council run their Heritage Festival, this year the library is helping bring the festival into the virtual world, including a celebration of the region's pottery and clay industries. Laura Findlay at Nelson Libraries says they also have staff calling customers who can’t get online, including senior citizens. Some staff members have been seconded to MSD as their usual work cannot be done from home. The library also moved their in-house digital advice and technical support online. As most libraries have experienced, they have seen the use of eBooks, Kanopy and other digital resources skyrocket. Parallel to this, the need for digital support has increased. Laura says it is especially satisfying to teach over 80s how to access eBooks, one of her 85 year old clients is now hooked on eBooks after using them for the first time during lockdown. Youth are also connecting online in different ways, the library’s YA Club has been playing Uno online together at Uno Freak. Nelson Libraries digital membership has surged since lockdown, Laura is hoping they will convert to full memberships after the library re-opens to the public.
Whakatāne libraries star Fidget the cat
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Whakatāne Libraries have been maintaining a responsive frontline customer service via Facebook page, and usual library emails, to answer individual enquiries in real-time. Louise Anderson explains ‘We have been filling our Facebook presence with scheduled posts every two hours throughout the day to keep our community informed and entertained with library related activities. Different team members are responsible for content at allotted scheduled times so that there is a variety of creative content throughout the day, seven days a week.’
Some of the creative content was created at staff home bubbles over several weeks to post when ready: 3 Bears exercise workouts and escape rooms (escape the kitchen); virtual storytimes Original creation cartooning, crosswords and word finds; QuaranZine poetry and creative writing; Video jokes; Video cooking tips; and every day our littlest library star Fidget the cat (pictured) brings a curated selection of eBook reading suggestions and helpful eResource advice to his devoted following. Louise says, ‘We know from the feedback that our crazy efforts are making a difference in people’s lives’. Joanna Oh and the team at Tauranga City Library were quick to embrace life in the bubble. Many of their regular activities and groups have been adapted for people to enjoy from home via two free online sites: Bubble Life and Bubble Life Junior. Updated with fun new content every Friday, each Bubble Life edition contains something for everyone, including favourite recipes of the week; ebooks and digital learning resources; and more.
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Increase in online memberships and surge in eBook lending
According to a recent Stuff article, the day before New Zealand entered a four-week lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Auckland Libraries recorded its highest number of online memberships seen in a single day since the service began in October 2019.
Between the closure of the libraries on March 20 and the end of March, more than 1400 people had become members. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told Stuff ‘What we're seeing here is driven out of necessity, but I think we'll see a permanent reshaping of the way people use our libraries.’
A Dunedin City Council spokesperson confirmed with LIANZA that the city's residents borrowed 3459 eBooks in March, compared to 2150 in March 2019. They also borrowed 3521 audiobooks compared to 2085 for the same period last year. Christchurch's Head of Libraries and Information, Carolyn Robertson, said 706 people joined the library online between March 24 and April 5, compared to 258 for the same period last year. More than 26,000 eBooks and audiobooks had been issued since Christchurch City Libraries closed on March 23. For the same period last year, there were just 5975 issues.
A similar story happened in South Taranaki District where the public libraries have seen a jump of 26 per cent in the use of eBooks and eAudio. ‘I’ve always known we’re a district of readers and this confirms that nothing gets between our residents and a good book, not even a pandemic,’ STDC libraries and cultural services manager Cath Sheard told Stuff.
Library staff in public libraries around New Zealand have worked innovatively in difficult circumstances to increase their virtual offerings to stay connected with their users, providing them with information and entertainment.
Between the closure of the libraries on March 20 and the end of March, more than 1400 people had become members. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told Stuff ‘What we're seeing here is driven out of necessity, but I think we'll see a permanent reshaping of the way people use our libraries.’
A Dunedin City Council spokesperson confirmed with LIANZA that the city's residents borrowed 3459 eBooks in March, compared to 2150 in March 2019. They also borrowed 3521 audiobooks compared to 2085 for the same period last year. Christchurch's Head of Libraries and Information, Carolyn Robertson, said 706 people joined the library online between March 24 and April 5, compared to 258 for the same period last year. More than 26,000 eBooks and audiobooks had been issued since Christchurch City Libraries closed on March 23. For the same period last year, there were just 5975 issues.
A similar story happened in South Taranaki District where the public libraries have seen a jump of 26 per cent in the use of eBooks and eAudio. ‘I’ve always known we’re a district of readers and this confirms that nothing gets between our residents and a good book, not even a pandemic,’ STDC libraries and cultural services manager Cath Sheard told Stuff.
Library staff in public libraries around New Zealand have worked innovatively in difficult circumstances to increase their virtual offerings to stay connected with their users, providing them with information and entertainment.
Tertiary Libraries
International students at Auckland University
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Auckland University Library negotiated with the Chinese government to allow their 1,500 Chinese students to use a VPN so they could access the university’s online learning resources and continue their study. Avette Kelly, Manager of Academic Engagement, explains that Auckland University moved fast to get all their international students ready for online study from the beginning of semester one and then rolled that out to 25-28,000 undergraduate students in time for lockdown. Something that not all New Zealand universities were able to do so quickly. International students make up a significant proportion of tertiary institutions’ income so this action was vital for their long term survival. The university is prepared to continue teaching online (particularly for their international students) for the whole year.
Tertiary librarians and learning and teaching advisors’ provide a vital support role for students. |
These staff needed to shift to supporting students learning online, giving advice and support enabling students to access digital resources. Learning support workshops needed to shift from face-to-face to online within a week, one example was a Zoom drop-in service with research advisors. As with many other libraries, work was done on the library website making online resources easier to find.
Avette says responding to COVID-19 challenges has made university staff realise these changes are possible and they are contemplating how old and new ways will blend in the future. It has highlighted the importance of Business Continuity Plans – thinking about how crucial it will be to make more of the collection digital going forward.
Avette says responding to COVID-19 challenges has made university staff realise these changes are possible and they are contemplating how old and new ways will blend in the future. It has highlighted the importance of Business Continuity Plans – thinking about how crucial it will be to make more of the collection digital going forward.
Auckland University of Technology Library is adapting as fast as possible, building digital literacy and new skills. The team was already digital first having moved to SharePoint and MS Teams. Just like Auckland University, AUT updated their library homepage to make information easier to find and are pivoting from face-to-face teaching to an online environment. Staff are collaborating with lecturers to create online content for courses. They continue to deliver online webinars for researchers and postgraduate students; they’re creating recordings of other webinars; and they’ve begun online drop-ins.
Kim Anderson, Communications Coordinator, explains that AUT Library has been working collectively with other New Zealand universities, copyright licensing agencies and publishers to navigate copyright issues due to lack of access to physical collections. The AUT Copyright and Open Access Advisor is working with library staff to develop resources on key copyright and open access information for online teaching. Library staff are identifying alternatives to print textbooks and they are finding resources online, such as Talis – there is a lot of digitised content online already. Kim says they are also setting up rapid IIL – Ex-Libris Inter-Library Loan system, free of charge for three months.
Social connection with staff and students remains vitally important and Kim says they are connecting via social media using an updated communications plan to suit the new conditions. Importantly, there is also some fun stuff, they are creating more Makerspace content with a MOG group working on activities for students and staff to do at home.
Kim Anderson, Communications Coordinator, explains that AUT Library has been working collectively with other New Zealand universities, copyright licensing agencies and publishers to navigate copyright issues due to lack of access to physical collections. The AUT Copyright and Open Access Advisor is working with library staff to develop resources on key copyright and open access information for online teaching. Library staff are identifying alternatives to print textbooks and they are finding resources online, such as Talis – there is a lot of digitised content online already. Kim says they are also setting up rapid IIL – Ex-Libris Inter-Library Loan system, free of charge for three months.
Social connection with staff and students remains vitally important and Kim says they are connecting via social media using an updated communications plan to suit the new conditions. Importantly, there is also some fun stuff, they are creating more Makerspace content with a MOG group working on activities for students and staff to do at home.
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In other tertiary sector news, the LIANZA Tertiary and Research Symposium Tātou tātou Vision 2020 planned for June 29-29 has been delayed and the LIANZA Research SIG and TEL SIG planning committee are evaluating options to delay the joint symposium to early 2021 or to offer the event online. Look out for announcements in the next couple of months.
Although not directly related to COVID-19, you may not have heard about recent changes in the tertiary library sector. As of April 1, 2020, tertiary librarians and library staff in New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics or ITP’s have a new employer. All staff have become employees of the new limited liability crown companies that are part of the new national New Zealand Institute of Skills & Technology (NZIST) (working title) under the provisions of the Education (Vocational Education and Training Reforms) Amendment Act. Lee Rowe, Toi Ohomai Library Manager, explains this in more depth on Libraries Aotearoa. Also, in the same blog post Adrian Jenkins writes about his experience as a Polytechnic subject librarian during the COVID-19 lockdown. |
Photo credit: Unitech
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Special Libraries
Peter Murgatroyd, at Counties Manukau Health library
Librarians working in the health and science sectors, such as Kevin Adams at ESR, have played an important role in ensuring researchers and Health officials can access all the resources they need and are supporting COVID-19 research and communications. Kevin says that as the sector has moved to being highly digital during recent years, his library was well prepared to respond to new ways of working. However, as Kevin says, you can’t beat personal contact and impromptu chats with colleagues, even if Zoom is a handy way to keep in touch.
In his recent blog piece, Peter Murgatroyd, Library and Knowledge Services Manager at Counties Manukau Health and National Convenor of the LIANZA Health SIG, explains the demand for their services during the COVID-19 pandemic has never been higher. As Peter says, in the face of massive disruption and uncertainty the role of librarians as highly skilled and trusted knowledge navigators has never been more relevant or valued.
In his recent blog piece, Peter Murgatroyd, Library and Knowledge Services Manager at Counties Manukau Health and National Convenor of the LIANZA Health SIG, explains the demand for their services during the COVID-19 pandemic has never been higher. As Peter says, in the face of massive disruption and uncertainty the role of librarians as highly skilled and trusted knowledge navigators has never been more relevant or valued.
Curious Contraptions with MOTAT
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Other special libraries, such as the Walsh Memorial Library at MOTAT have been pumping out new online content for kids drawing on their collections, launching their fun new site in time for lockdown and supporting learning from home, sharing new activities, stories, puzzles, games, videos, all the good stuff!
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Law libraries
How have law libraries responded in lockdown? Lucy Powell reflects on her experience as library manager for Shortland Chambers, a group of 35 barristers, plus a team of nine junior barristers. Lucy says:
Fortunately I have been able to continue working from home, as many of the resources that lawyers use are online, accessed through various subscriptions.
That said, we also have a reasonable collection of texts (250+) and one of my fun tasks in the last year has been to establish an online catalogue of these items – the previous version was a single Word document! In the first couple of weeks of March I ran training sessions to teach everyone how to search the catalogue and how to issue and return books, as I am usually only in the office 10 hours a week. I'm now so grateful I was able to get this training done before the office closed down. I might have to run refreshers on how to use a barcode scanner, but at least everyone should be able to search the catalogue.
But what's the point of that if you can't access any physical books, I hear you ask? Well, it turns out that many of our key texts are also available digitally through the main publishers that we deal with: LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters. So, since the start of the lockdown, I have been updating our catalogue records to include links to the online versions where these are available.
The publishers too are doing what they can to support their clients through this unusual period. One of them has agreed to make available a limited number of eBook versions of texts that we have already purchased from them in print, where these are not already available through our subscription. So that has involved liaising with a number of the barristers to work out what our top picks for this service will be.
I put together a fortnightly bulletin of recent cases and legislative changes, also something that can readily be done from within my bubble at home. However, with the courts only carrying out a fraction of the work they normally do, the number of judgments issued and cases that can be reported on will likely slow to a trickle, both here and from overseas. I've started including a ‘fortnightly funny’ on the last page of the bulletin – there are currently so many memes, jokes, cartoons, etc to choose from out there – but it's mostly to find out how many people read right to the end!
It's also the time of the year when our annual subscriptions need to be reviewed and renegotiated; discussions that previously took place in person will now need to happen by phone, email and Zoom. If nothing else, it's clearer to see the value of having online access to information.
Underlying all of this, of course, is uncertainty about what the future looks like. From a historical perspective, the legal profession survives economic ups and downs reasonably well, although some areas of practice may thrive while others founder. But what we are going through now is unprecedented and will no doubt change the legal landscape in many ways as well. The optimist in me says that law is a profession in which access to quality information plays a key part and therefore there will continue to be a role for law librarians in whatever future lies before us. Here's hoping anyway!
Fortunately I have been able to continue working from home, as many of the resources that lawyers use are online, accessed through various subscriptions.
That said, we also have a reasonable collection of texts (250+) and one of my fun tasks in the last year has been to establish an online catalogue of these items – the previous version was a single Word document! In the first couple of weeks of March I ran training sessions to teach everyone how to search the catalogue and how to issue and return books, as I am usually only in the office 10 hours a week. I'm now so grateful I was able to get this training done before the office closed down. I might have to run refreshers on how to use a barcode scanner, but at least everyone should be able to search the catalogue.
But what's the point of that if you can't access any physical books, I hear you ask? Well, it turns out that many of our key texts are also available digitally through the main publishers that we deal with: LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters. So, since the start of the lockdown, I have been updating our catalogue records to include links to the online versions where these are available.
The publishers too are doing what they can to support their clients through this unusual period. One of them has agreed to make available a limited number of eBook versions of texts that we have already purchased from them in print, where these are not already available through our subscription. So that has involved liaising with a number of the barristers to work out what our top picks for this service will be.
I put together a fortnightly bulletin of recent cases and legislative changes, also something that can readily be done from within my bubble at home. However, with the courts only carrying out a fraction of the work they normally do, the number of judgments issued and cases that can be reported on will likely slow to a trickle, both here and from overseas. I've started including a ‘fortnightly funny’ on the last page of the bulletin – there are currently so many memes, jokes, cartoons, etc to choose from out there – but it's mostly to find out how many people read right to the end!
It's also the time of the year when our annual subscriptions need to be reviewed and renegotiated; discussions that previously took place in person will now need to happen by phone, email and Zoom. If nothing else, it's clearer to see the value of having online access to information.
Underlying all of this, of course, is uncertainty about what the future looks like. From a historical perspective, the legal profession survives economic ups and downs reasonably well, although some areas of practice may thrive while others founder. But what we are going through now is unprecedented and will no doubt change the legal landscape in many ways as well. The optimist in me says that law is a profession in which access to quality information plays a key part and therefore there will continue to be a role for law librarians in whatever future lies before us. Here's hoping anyway!
The Future
If discussions about challenges for libraries at well-attended LIANZA Meetups are anything to go by then we know that libraries will continue to adapt in the coming months. From Click and Collect services to quarantine for the hundreds of thousands of books being returned agile responses are being put in place.
The public library community will need to consider which of the new ways of doing things will remain in place permanently – such as digital-only membership and online membership applications, no overdue fines and staff working from home. We’ll need to beware the businesses who made resources open and free for a time that will start to charge for services again soon, and then manage library customers’ expectations as these free resources dry up. LIANZA are facilitating sector-wide Zoom meetings bringing librarians together to plan and brainstorm so we can face these issues together.
What we do know is that tertiary and school libraries will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting learning provide services to support the life-long learning of New Zealanders and and special libraries to provide information that enables our country to make evidence-based decisions. Public librareis will always play a really important role as a physical space in their communities – the living room of the city; the safe space for the most vulnerable members of our society; the one place you can mooch without any expectation of making a financial transaction. And, as we face a likely recession, we need to remember that:
The public library community will need to consider which of the new ways of doing things will remain in place permanently – such as digital-only membership and online membership applications, no overdue fines and staff working from home. We’ll need to beware the businesses who made resources open and free for a time that will start to charge for services again soon, and then manage library customers’ expectations as these free resources dry up. LIANZA are facilitating sector-wide Zoom meetings bringing librarians together to plan and brainstorm so we can face these issues together.
What we do know is that tertiary and school libraries will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting learning provide services to support the life-long learning of New Zealanders and and special libraries to provide information that enables our country to make evidence-based decisions. Public librareis will always play a really important role as a physical space in their communities – the living room of the city; the safe space for the most vulnerable members of our society; the one place you can mooch without any expectation of making a financial transaction. And, as we face a likely recession, we need to remember that:
‘Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.’ – Anne Herbert |