Guest Editorial

Alabama Libraries and COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were all reminded that no matter our differences, we share similar struggles. Librarians understand the importance of working together, so we knew cooperation would be key to not just survival, but also to truly meeting the information needs of our state. Alabama has 1,685 libraries: 1,327 K-12, 210 public, 87 college/academic, and 61 special libraries. The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) and the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL), a consortium of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and Alabama’s four-year public and private institutions, were main players in making sure the information needs for all Alabama citizens were met during this time.

We know that libraries are essential; they were recognized as such when disaster struck. Decades of effort to provide online resources for all Alabama citizens via the Alabama Virtual Library was brought into sharp focus: teachers and librarians were well aware of this invaluable resource, but now parents helping their kids learn from home needed to know. And after so much effort and time spent encouraging users to visit our physical spaces, we had to focus on providing seamless service from a distance. Cooperation, communication, and support for each other were prioritized.

Alabama academic librarians and school library media specialists took the lead in helping teachers make the transition from face-to-face classes to online instruction. Many embedded themselves into courses to extend their help. Those not well versed in online instruction had a steep learning curve. The NAAL Continuing Education Committee applied for IMLS CARES Act funding to provide training to ensure expertise; others wrote grant proposals and scoured their budgets. As our libraries tirelessly addressed their user needs in inventive and interesting ways, state-funded resources such as the Alabama Virtual Library and Homework Alabama were heavily in demand. We worked with vendors and content providers to minimize costs. School media specialists and acquisitions/collection development librarians sought out databases, eBooks, and streaming video to meet changing user needs. Cataloguers worked to ensure discoverability of new resources. Museums and libraries teamed together to translate traditional exhibits into online environments so students could complete assignments. Archivists stepped up to document the pandemic, photographing empty campuses and recording the stories of students, faculty, and staff. Just as we learned from 1918 pandemic history, we worked to ensure future generations can learn about life during COVID-19.

Academic, public, and school librarians were tasked with distributing laptops, tablets, and hotspots to those with technology needs. Chat services exploded as reference departments moved online. Universities with health science programs and medical schools had additional tasks of support, including an intense focus on

assessing and providing the latest COVID-19 information. Librarians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham shared their 3D printers with the medical school to explore making protective gear for healthcare providers and nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing. Many colleges became testing and vaccination sites.

Safety precautions, such as quarantining returned items, created spacing challenges; APLS provided guidelines that were distributed by OCLC’s REALM program. NAAL held Zoom chats to enable those making similar decisions to brainstorm solutions, share experiences, and support each other from a distance. Curbside service became a standard on college campuses and took on new importance in the public/school library realm, where children’s grab bags filled with reading activities and other information were provided for those without access to technology. They used buses to provide hot spots for communities where broadband is out of reach. Old technology, such as recorded story times via telephone, got a second chance on life. Librarians adapted services to technology by making videos that they uploaded to YouTube, and, in the process, found themselves the stars of the show.

Reopening our physical library spaces presented yet more challenges. With a focus on keeping everyone safe, libraries rearranged traffic patterns and seating to encourage social distancing, installed sanitization stations and plastic dividers, regularly cleaned shared spaces, and monitored policy adherence. They addressed staffing and budgeting needs to meet heavier workloads. Beyond the physical tasks, our largest challenge remains rethinking how to serve everyone in our state: those who have internet access and those who do not. Many of these changes will continue after the pandemic, at least to some degree. Users really enjoy curbside service and access to materials online, while staff have discovered they like having flexible schedules and teleworking options. We have grown in knowledge and capability, and have formed partnerships and bonds that will continue. Librarians excel at connecting people to the information they need regardless of obstacles. Alabama librarians definitely rose to the challenge of COVID-19.

Nancy C. Pack, PhD

Director, Alabama Public Library Service

Sheila L. Snow-Croft, MLIS, MA

Director, Network of Alabama Academic Libraries

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