Public Libraries As Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Reilly Waters

LIS 707

Providing their communities with quality service has always been a goal for public

libraries. Though, when COVID-19 spread, public libraries needed to rethink how to best serve

their communities in times of lock down or social distancing. Public libraries reacted with

innovation and dedication to serve their patrons during an unsure time. Despite many challenges,

public libraries were vital community institutions during this time of crisis. Throughout the

COVID-19 pandemic, public library strove to provide quality services, relevant resources, and

acted as library leaders to help their communities thrive during a public health crisis.

According to the Public Library Association’s PLA Leadership Model, “Library leaders

work to Help individuals, neighborhoods, and communities thrive, Become a trusted resource

that allows everyone to have their voices heard and to contribute to a healthy and engaged

society” (“Leadership Development”). With this, libraries acted as crucial leaders during the

pandemic. For example, “Libraries, as a social institution, are responsible for ensuring public

health awareness and the provision of up-to-date information to clinicians and managers” (Ali

and Gatiti 158). To serve their communities, public libraries acted as key sources of knowledge

and support for patrons during the pandemic.

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 The mission of public libraries remained true, but more unique missions and layers

became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Balagopal et al. wrote, “Libraries mission

becomes to serve its community to over come the stress and depression caused by the disasters

and to improve mental and physical health of the community as a whole” (20). As leaders, public

libraries needed to address factors affecting their communities’ physical and mental health in

addition to providing information services. In Ali and Gatiti’s work, they studied a library in

Pakistan and identified the library’s key roles during the pandemic. Specifically, “In the current

pandemic, Pakistani librarian aims to do three things: (1) support public health awareness; (2)

support research teams, researchers and faculty; and (3) provide routine core services for regular

library users” (Ali and Gatiti 161-162). Countries worldwide prioritized serving their

community’s in unique ways to support their patrons during the pandemic.

Many challenges faced public libraries during COVID-19. Further, “As the COVID-19

pandemic has swept across the world, it has created challenges for public libraries. During the

disaster, the public libraries have remained true to their mission as community institutions,

continuing to function and respond to the new situation by finding creative ways to serve their

communities” (Alajmi and Albudaiwi 540). In the face of lock downs and social distancing

measures, public librarians faced several challenges, but remained dedicated to serving patrons.

Creative thinking was vital for public libraries to utilize in order to provide their communities

with effective remote services.

While libraries were physically closed, patrons’ needs of service were still present. For

example, “While libraries are forced to close physically during the COVID-19 pandemic, they

continue to meet their patrons’ needs by providing services and resources to help maintain

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learning and reflection” (Alajmi and Albudaiwi 551). As a community institution and leader,

public libraries needed to continue to supporting patrons within their personal learning and

reflection. In response to physical closing of libraries, library services needed to evolve. Ashiq et

al. specified, “The library services during Covid-19 pandemic mainly fell under three categories,

such as creating awareness during the physical closing of libraries, instant transformation of

library services, and trending remote working” (9). Their phrase instant transformation is

powerful and speaks to the dedication of library leaders. Regarding challenges, the authors

continue, “The challenges were human and infrastructural, workplace anxiety and stress,

infodemic and changing information seeking behaviors, and leadership and planning” (Ashiq et

al. 9). In addition to infrastructural and leadership challenges, the phenomenon known as

‘infodemic’ needed to be addressed. Further, “Additionally, they must come forward in

combatting post-truth era and “infodemic” of false news regarding COVID-19 and other issues

by instructing new literacy skills to their communities” (Ameen 303). False news required public

libraries to address digital literacy skills in order for their communities to approach and

understand information critically during this ‘infodemic’.

The digital services offered by public libraries were more important than ever during the

COVID-19 pandemic. For example, “The growth of digital services, the evolution of new roles

and opportunities, the rapid pace of the online environment, and the rapid changes of the

information landscape are all taking place” (Ashiq et al. 9). The rapid changing of information

services was immense, but the authors continued, “The most important thing to stay relevant in

this rapidly changing information world by taking on new roles, including new services, training

library employees, and recognizing the needs of a diverse library community” (Ashiq et al. 9).

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Through effective training and knowledge of their community, public libraries were able to

ensure effective digital services during the pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media presented a unique opportunity to

communicate with the library community. Further, “In the middle of this massive and growing

instability, social media play a more critical role than ever” (Aljimi and Albudaiwi 550). With

building closings, social media presented an opportunity to communicate with patrons. Aljimi

and Albudaiwi wrote, “With the increasing popularity of social media, public libraries turn to

these online platforms to promote their long-lasting mission as community institutions ready to

help and support their communities in good as well as challenging and stressful times” (541).

During the uncertainty presented by COVID-19, social media was utilized to reach patrons with

news, knowledge, and announcements.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted everyone, but it is important to analyze the impacts

on children. McChesney wrote, “…there is a wide concern for the impact of the pandemic on

children’s social and emotional health” (570). The pandemic impacted kids’ social and emotional

health, like the opportunity to socialize with other kids and the stress associated with COVID-19.

Further, “There is an urgent need for public libraries to address these issues in our programming

so that our youth can embark on academic and social, and emotional recovery” (McChesney

570). As leaders, public libraries need to be mindful of how programming can benefit the health

and recovery of young patrons following the pandemic.

There is lots of information documenting the learning loss that impacted young students.

Specifically, “COVID learning loss has impacted youth at all ages but is greatest for kindergarten

through third grade” (McChesney 568). Being aware that learning loss due to COVID most

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impacts children from kindergarten to third grade is crucial information to inform decisions

about programming and services provided by their public library. Further, “Studies already

indicate that COVID slide is real, disproportionally impacting students in high need

communities” (Nichols 39). In addition to young elementary aged students, it’s important to be

mindful of the impact of COVID-19 on high need communities to serve them effectively. In

order to support young patrons, the impact of the pandemic needs to be understood and taken

into account when planning programs or providing resources.

In addition to COVID learning loss, it’s vital for public libraries to be aware of inequities

that became clear throughout the pandemic. For example, “Of course, the disruption of the

pandemic has results in lost academic, social and personal ground for children of all ages and

backgrounds. However, the evidence clearly demonstrated that the youngest children; our Black,

brown, and Indigenous youth; and all youth living in poverty have suffered more than others”

(McChesney 565). As leaders, public libraries work to help individuals and their community

thrive, so an awareness of inequities is vital to ensure their services are applicable and helpful to

the community. One inequity that was present in the pandemic was internet connection.

Specifically, “McKinsey Reports found that Black and Latinx students were twice as likely to

have no access to live teachers than their white peers. Lack of access to adequate Wi-Fi,

broadband, and digital devices persists for these same communities, widening the disparity”

(McChesney 565). Lack of internet access and digital devices further widened the disparity

experienced by community’s Black and Latinx students. Tackling disparities can be achieved

through partnerships with local schools to create a summer program, for example. Library

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leaders need to ensure that they are helping young patrons thrive through effective and

responsive library services.

While the COVID-19 had a huge impact on public libraries, many librarians are now

looking forward. Specifically, “Librarians are looking forward, exciting to discover new library

services and opportunities to build a stronger library-user interface in the future” (Asif Ugo-Net

24). Serving patrons amid a pandemic offered public libraries with valuable knowledge regarding

how to serve and lead their communities. Ali and Gatiti wrote, “A need for information exists in

every crisis; librarians and information professional must be ready to meet this need whether it is

for COVID-19 or something else” (162). In a crisis, public libraries are vital sources of

information. Referring back to the PLA Leadership model, becoming a community resource that

contributes to public health is a key factor in being a library leader (“Leadership Development”).

The knowledge gained from serving the public during COVID-19 can act as valuable

information to reference in the case that an other crisis impacts public libraries and their services.

In conclusion, public libraries have always acted as community leaders, but this support

became evident and pressing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public libraries shifted their

services to accommodate communities facing uncertainty during the pandemic. Public libraries

focused on digital resources and services, addressing the pandemic’s impact on adults and kids,

and addressing stress, hardships, and inequities through programming and services. Public

libraries responded to public need with innovation, creativity, and a desire to effectively serve

their community. Even in the face of COVID-19, public libraries acted as effective leaders to

support their community members.

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 Works Cited

Alajmi, Bibi M., and Dalal Albudaiwi. “Response to COVID-19 pandemic: Where do public

libraries stand?” Public Library Quarterly, vol. 40, no. 6, 19 Oct. 2020, pp. 540–556,

https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2020.1827618.

Ali, Muhammad Yousuf, and Peter Gatiti. “The Covid 19 (coronavirus) pandemic: Reflections

on the roles of Librarians and Information Professionals.” Health Information Libraries

Journal, vol. 37, 2020, pp. 158–162, https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12307.

Ameen, Kanwal. “Covid-19 pandemic and role of libraries.” Library Management, vol. 42, no.

4/5, 24 Jan. 2021, pp. 302–304, https://doi.org/10.1108/lm-01-2021-0008.

Ashiq, Murtaza, et al. “Transformation of libraries during covid-19 pandemic: A systematic

review.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 48, no. 4, Apr. 2022, pp. 1–10,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102534.

Asif Ugo-Net, Mohammad. “Trends, opportunities and scope of libraries during covid-19

pandemic.” IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, vol. 5, no.

1, July 2020, pp. 24–27, https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijlsit.2020.005.

Balagopal, Matty, et al. “Public Libraries Revolutionizing and Empowering Societies During the

COVID 19 Pandemic Period: With Special Reference to Valapattanam GP Library,

Kerala.” Library Philosophy and Practice (e-Journal), 2021, pp. 1–20.

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Jamali, Hamid R., and Philip Hider. “Changes in the usage pattern of public library collections

during the covid pandemic.” Collection Management, 9 May 2023, pp. 1–15, https://

doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2023.2210070.

“Leadership Development.” Public Library Association (PLA), 5 Sept. 2023, www.ala.org/pla/

leadership.

McChesney, Elizabeth. “The Public Library’s role in youth learning: Remediation and

acceleration during COVID.” Journal of Library Administration, vol. 62, no. 4, 13 May

2022, pp. 564–571, https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2022.2057133.

Nichols, Emily. “School age programs and services committee: Act boldly! working to combat

covid slide.” Children Libraries, winter 2021, pp. 39–40, https://doi.org/10.5860/

cal.19.4.39.

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