British librarianship in the time of Covid-19

Abstract

Covid-19 has impacted on every aspect of daily life across the United Kingdom. At once both a public health crisis and an ‘infodemic’ of misinformation, it has presented unique challenges for library and information services. Yet despite these challenges, the pandemic has also given our services a new-found relevance. Readership has increased dramatically. Librarians in health have turned their skills to the search for an effective vaccine. Our colleagues in schools, colleges and Universities have stepped up to help their institutions achieve a rapid ‘digital pivot’. In the private sector, librarians and information professionals have used their skills to help their companies go online and to ensure the continuity of their activities. It is not yet clear how the pandemic will change our habits, attitudes and behaviours in the long term. As we begin to look ahead to a future in which ‘digital’ has taken its place on equal terms with face-to-face services, the library and information sector is uniquely positioned to help our communities thrive in a post-pandemic era. In this article, Nick Poole, the Chief Executive of CILIP, the United Kingdom’s Library and Information Association, looks back at the last year for UK libraries and explores the challenges and opportunities ahead.