Libraries and Librarians really stepped up and played their part during Covid-19… and we are still playing our part nearly a year later! Our Library Team in GMIT continued to deliver library services but not in the usual face-to-face way. Okay, so face-to-face is not the same as online but we have reached way beyond the environs of our buildings – we have extended across the country and the world. Communication has been key throughout the pandemic, with a large increase in traffic to our library’s social media channels – we use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to connect with all our stakeholders and in addition email and monthly newsletters for our staff and students.
Technology allowed for remote learning and working. Students and academics required access to text digitally, unfortunately a lot of Irish textbooks are not available digitally. Furthermore, copyright laws and restriction don’t always let us do what we want to do. We endeavoured to do what we could and to be fair suppliers really stepped up … publishers did great work in expanding access to collections and new resources. However, the amount of Open Access (AO) resources being thrown at us was overwhelming, there was so much more work in providing access – the challenge going forward will be trying to keep access to the resources that were free during the crisis! We moved our library instruction online, both live and as recordings. Some of our new initiatives include live chat and LibAnswers, click and collect/delivery and scan & deliver services, bookable seats and computers and online lunchtime talks. I believe the pandemic has shown the value of library staff across the institute, we need to be valued for the unique skills we have when we return to our ‘new normal’.
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December 2023
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