Cox (2020) foresees the substantial ways academic libraries of the future will change in terms of their collections, services, spaces and operations as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Although it discusses these shifts in relation to academic libraries, they are also relevant to the school library.
COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns it has forced on school libraries has meant that the value of print collections has diminished and been replaced by digital content. Libraries that have spent years curating digital content, robust search interfaces and web presence have navigated their way through the lockdowns and restrictions more smoothly (Cox, 2020). The experience has highlighted the need for all school libraries, as 21st century information providers, to adapt and find innovative ways to ensure their students and staff have 24-hour access to information resources.
The mass digitisation and access to information will require library staff to understand, teach and apply the proper use of copyright (Cox, 2020). The impact of this will mean that any issues will need to be resolved promptly to ensure smooth and legal application of digital content for library patrons. Public values can be compromised if the school library does not adequately address issues and policy around online digital security and confidentially of personal data, copyright, consent, and censorship. This presents a significant impact to the future of school libraries and their presentation and access to online information resources.
Electronic collections require an increased budget to add digital resources to the collection as well as preserve current print collections and make them more digitally accessible (Cox, 2020). The recent and ongoing financial fallout of COVID-19 will most likely be felt by school libraries for a few years yet. The impact of this will require school libraries to develop new and better strategies for negotiating deals with publishers as well as lobbying for better deals for streaming media and eBooks (Cox, 2020). The impact presents school libraries with opportunities to develop and design new and innovative access models tailored to the client experience.
The lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a time of great learning and reflection for school libraries and how they operate. Meeting the library user at the point of need is a priority. Remote learning and digitisation have meant school libraries need to make access to their services accessible and easily retrievable. The school library has the potential to support online learning by assisting teachers and subject coordinators in developing and designing online learning programs. This will impact the strength of the relationship between school and library staff and leverage the expertise of librarians as information professionals. Potentially this will provide students and staff with online learning skills to equip them as 21st century lifelong learners.
To accommodate, post COVID-19, for the mass digitisation and the current library collection becoming more digitally accessible, the school library space will need to become more flexible. In an uncertain future flexibility is key. Some posing questions for libraries to ponder as they attempt to plan their library space include; Will provisions on library space need to be available to socially distance patrons if needed? Can new and innovative library designs that emphasise inquiry learning, and collaboration be still available? (Cox, 2020). Government guidelines and library user behaviour will determine the answers. However, a variety of options for patrons on how they use the space will need to be available. The impact may require other study spaces across the school to also be facilitated and available.
COVID-19 has created a somewhat uncertain future for school libraries. However, with thought, collaboration and innovative future planning, library staff are in a position to take advantage of the unique potential that it has presented and facilitate positive and permanent change for their libraries and patrons.
References
Copyright [Online image]. https://www.rb.gy/znnhd0
Lady in the library [Online image]. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/
Cox, C. (2020, June 5). Changed, changed utterly. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2020/06/05/academic-libraries-will-change-significant-ways-result-pandemic-opinion