Delivering and utilising library services during the pandemic disease outbreak: challenges and coping strategies

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorWilfred, Josephine
dc.contributor.authorMwantimwa, Kelefa
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-16T10:58:58Z
dc.date.available2024-08-16T10:58:58Z
dc.date.issued2024-02-10
dc.descriptionAbstract. Full text available at https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490241233283
dc.description.abstractBackground The COVID-19 pandemic caused severe shutdowns, quarantines, closures, cancellations, and other restrictive measures in different countries. Educational institutions such as universities, colleges, and schools were not immune to the devastating effects caused by the pandemic. Purpose The present study intended to explore challenges and coping strategies in maintaining access to and use of resources and services in academic libraries during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research design To gain familiarity and acquire new insight into how Tanzania academic libraries managed their services during the COVID-19 pandemic exploratory research design was employed. A qualitative approach was mainly used to explore library staff and users’ opinions and experiences on library service provision during the pandemic outbreak. Data collection methods and analysis Focus group discussions (FGDs) and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Data collected through FGD and semi-structured interviews were transcribed and subjected to qualitative data analysis. In particular, thematic analysis was employed in analysing data based on assigned themes. Results Generally, the study reveals multiple challenges in delivering library services and resources and their coping strategies. However, most of the coping strategies put forward mainly focused into preventing the pandemic, rather than enhancing access to and use of library services and resources among the users. Conclusion and recommendations The study exposes challenges that affected the delivery and use of library services during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and their coping strategies were known. Proposal to digitize the library collections, invest in the application of digital library solutions and innovations, build capacity in digital competencies among the library staff and users, and increase access and use of open and freely available resources and services appear to be sustainable coping strategies when a pandemic occurs.
dc.identifier.citationWilfred, J., & Mwantimwa, K. (2024). Delivering and utilising library services during the pandemic disease outbreak: challenges and coping strategies. Alexandria, 09557490241233283.
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/09557490241233283
dc.identifier.issn2050-4551
dc.identifier.otherDOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490241233283
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.udom.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12661/4608
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSAGE Publications
dc.relation.ispartofAlexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues
dc.subjectLibrary services
dc.subjectPandemic disease
dc.subjectPandemic
dc.subjectPandemic disease outbreak
dc.subjectCOVID-19 pandemic
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectcoping strategies
dc.titleDelivering and utilising library services during the pandemic disease outbreak: challenges and coping strategies
dc.typeArticle
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
J. Wilfred.pdf
Size:
363.31 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles