One Year In: A Survey of Public Services Librarians on the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Todorinova, Lily

The author surveyed 145 librarians regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest the pandemic’s effects have not been evenly distributed geographically, or among different types of workers. Some feel that the crisis has helped libraries expand services, while others worry that it has hurt their abilities to interact with users. In addition to introducing new challenges, the pandemic has uncovered inequities within the profession, furthered communication and decision-making gaps, and precipitated ongoing budgetary shortfalls. The past year has also affected librarians on a personal level, increasing stress and dissatisfaction. On the other hand, communication between colleagues may have improved through the use of online tools and remote/flexible work could have positive long-term implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Library Administration is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)