ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to public library services and systems in Australia and around the world. The social, cultural, economic and commercial impacts of the pandemic will require creativity and adaptability at both an individual and organisational level, with ‘business as usual’ no longer an option for many. This paper discusses innovations that have been introduced to maintain relevance, connect with vulnerable communities beyond the library branch, and encourage online engagement while patrons are in extended lockdowns or otherwise COVID-affected and isolated. It proposes that issues that may arise after the initial pandemic response and ways in which they may be addressed by Australian public libraries, for example ensuring safety and efficiency of continued public library services, monitoring research into the infection risk and cleanliness of surfaces as relating to library materials, following changing government guidelines and regulations, and potentially agitating for further funding to meet these changing needs. The challenges and opportunities are varied during these uncertain times, but public libraries retain their core mission to support digital literacies and act as gateways to information. Research and innovation lead by library staff can and should ensure that this continues into the future.

摘要

COVID-19大流行已导致澳大利亚及世界各地的公共图书馆服务和系统中断。大流行的社会，文化，经济和商业影响将需要个人和组织层面的创造力和适应性，“照常营业”已不再是许多人的选择。本文讨论了为保持相关性，与图书馆分支机构以外的弱势社区建立联系并鼓励在线参与而提出的创新，而这些挑战是在顾客处于长期封锁或受到COVID影响和孤立的情况下提出的。它建议在最初的大流行应对之​​后可能出现的问题，以及澳大利亚公共图书馆可能采取的解决方法，例如确保继续提供公共图书馆服务的安全性和效率，根据不断变化的政府指南和法规，监视与图书馆资料有关的感染风险和表面清洁度的研究，并可能争取更多资金来满足这些不断变化的需求。在这些不确定的时期，挑战和机遇千差万别，但公共图书馆仍然保持其核心使命，即支持数字文学并充当信息门户。由图书馆工作人员领导的研究和创新可以并且应该确保这种情况持续到将来。但是公共图书馆保留了支持数字文学并充当信息门户的核心使命。由图书馆工作人员领导的研究和创新可以并且应该确保这种情况持续到将来。但是公共图书馆保留了支持数字文学并充当信息门户的核心使命。由图书馆工作人员领导的研究和创新可以并且应该确保这种情况持续到将来。