Crisis Librarianship: An Examination of Online Librarianship Roles in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic

 Reed, K. N., Kester, B., Kaufmann, K. F., Homol, L., & Crampsie, C. (2022). Crisis Librarianship: An Examination of Online Librarianship Roles in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 48(4), 102530–102530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102530

Submitted by William Suarez

Summary:

    A study that surveyed the members of a library organization for their perceptions of their online roles as librarians. This study placed a focus on any change to online librarianship roles after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns beginning in March 2020. Participates were given a survey that exercises both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The results show that overall, the roles largely remained the same as before the lockdowns. The survey also showed that there were reports of increase in demands due to workplace issues like a lack in resources.

Review:

    This was a very valuable research study as libraries had to undergo a lot of change due to the pandemic lockdowns. I believe this was a much needed study to do as after the lockdown, these changes also provide a change for libraries to reevaluate themselves and adjust themselves according to what their respective communities need. The results prove that this survey was needed after the lockdowns as even though the professional role itself remained unchanged, this change allowed the workers to realize where they were lacking in their ability to do their job, i.e. realizing that they were lacking in resources. 

How Are Academic Institutions Innovating Under Pressure

Bimson, Amanda

Carpenter, T. A. (2020, April 7). How are Academic Institutions Innovating Under Pressure. Retrieved April 13, 2020, from https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2020/04/08/academy-innovating-under-pressure/

Carpenter did a good job defining all the pain points that colleges and universities are going through at the time of a crisis like the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020. He explained how these institutions are having more of a technology gap in such a technologically advanced time is poignant. Some institutions already had some shutdown orders in place from previous issues he used as examples, however nothing had prepared them for the magnitude of what was being thrown at them now. Once they did the quick and dirty work of determining what and how to teach, it became apparent the need for documentation and definitions were needed for not only the staff but also the students. What was shown as a positive outcome of this crisis was how the support for such a time was already there from “educational technology support organizations,” librarians, and other institutions.

Why did this connect with me? I found this intriguing for a few reasons. Firstly, the concept of online learning should be present in every institution. Not every learning organization is prepared or even has a form of online learning. But if we can take away one point from the whole of the issues that COVID has brought to light within the learning communities, it is that online learning should be incorporated into every institution. Secondly, I work for one of those “educational technology support organizations” that have stepped up and provided assistance in the wake of this global need for online learning and access to information. To see the good from inside and out of an organization adn to hear how truly helpful and how much you have contributed to a crisis of this scale is a rewarding task. Finally, focus on guide production was a useful thought. Educators right now are having so much thrown at them and they have to learn quickly or be caught in the dust of others. Guides from their organizations, with the help of others per Carpenter, are essential items to start now and update often. This situation is not going to change any right now. So these guides will be what can save them in the longer term as their institutions make business decisions about how to proceed with the future of their organizations.