ABSTRACT

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic forced public library staff to rapidly rethink the services they offered as lockdown restrictions meant that libraries as social venues briefly came to an end. Online content was developed overnight to fill the void. This study examines the impact that the contactless operational model has had on library services across Australia, as seen through the eyes of eight public library staff. The qualitative study contributes in-depth data to scant literature about public libraries and the pandemic in an Australian context. The study highlights the value of libraries to the community. The need for in-person contact is discussed in terms of future service design in library and information practice.

摘要

2020 年 COVID-19 大流行迫使公共图书馆工作人员迅速重新考虑他们提供的服务，因为锁定限制意味着图书馆作为社交场所的短暂结束。在线内容是在一夜之间开发出来的，以填补这一空白。本研究从八名公共图书馆工作人员的角度审视了非接触式运营模式对澳大利亚图书馆服务的影响。定性研究为澳大利亚背景下关于公共图书馆和大流行的少量文献提供了深入的数据。该研究强调了图书馆对社区的价值。在图书馆和信息实践中未来的服务设计方面讨论了面对面接触的必要性。