The New Normal: Public Library Services Before and After the Pandemic
"In the Fall of 2020, Bryce Hagan, Carmen Paul, Zach Wagman, and I began qualitative research through the University of Washington on the longevity of adapted public library services."
Research Question. What public library services have been adapted to pandemic-related conditions and which of these adaptations are potentially worth continuing after the pandemic?
Abstract. United States public libraries have adapted their services to ensure safety for their patrons and staff during the novel Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. This research evaluates the effectiveness of the adaptions made within Pacific Northwest public libraries. Through artifact analysis of publications both from and about libraries, deployment of questionnaires targeted at public library patrons, and one-on-one interviews with active library management, this research indicates that all facilities analyzed provided some form of curbside pickup and virtual programming as an adapted service. Library management expressed an interest in continuing to provide these adapted services even after pandemic-related precautions were no longer necessary. Some felt that it would be difficult to find funding or staff hours to dedicate to these services but that it would be essential to a “new normal” for library culture. Although library management described these modified services as popular, patrons surveyed consistently reported lower satisfaction with pandemic related library services. This disconnect between patrons’ and library management experience might point to the specificity of the data collection. Select libraries were investigated and 40% of the survey respondents lived in the Walla Walla County. Further investigation of these and/or other libraries is necessary.
Abstract. United States public libraries have adapted their services to ensure safety for their patrons and staff during the novel Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. This research evaluates the effectiveness of the adaptions made within Pacific Northwest public libraries. Through artifact analysis of publications both from and about libraries, deployment of questionnaires targeted at public library patrons, and one-on-one interviews with active library management, this research indicates that all facilities analyzed provided some form of curbside pickup and virtual programming as an adapted service. Library management expressed an interest in continuing to provide these adapted services even after pandemic-related precautions were no longer necessary. Some felt that it would be difficult to find funding or staff hours to dedicate to these services but that it would be essential to a “new normal” for library culture. Although library management described these modified services as popular, patrons surveyed consistently reported lower satisfaction with pandemic related library services. This disconnect between patrons’ and library management experience might point to the specificity of the data collection. Select libraries were investigated and 40% of the survey respondents lived in the Walla Walla County. Further investigation of these and/or other libraries is necessary.
DATA FOR THIS RESEARCH IS CURRENTLY LOCKED DUE TO CONFIDENTIALITY