A window of opportunity: Sustained excellence in academic library response to the challenges of COVID-19

Abstract

An integral part of the higher education enterprise, academic libraries found themselves at the epicenter of the response to the impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak in early spring 2020. This two-phase study investigates how selected regional academic libraries across the United States have been coping with the challenges inflicted by COVID-19, including changing modes of service delivery, the need to provide adequate technology infrastructure, health and safety concerns, and the feelings of anxiety and isolation by library employees. The study demonstrates that these challenges can be overcome with transparent communication, resilient employees, proactive decision- making, and adaptive organizational culture.