Purpose

COVID-19 forced libraries and other institutions to either close their doors to users or change their services routines. At this time, the libraries should extend their efforts to meet the increasing demands of information services in terms of quantity and quality of information services. This study aims to explore the role and responsibilities of academic libraries during times of crisis from the staff perception in academic libraries in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was disseminated to 359 library staff who were working at the 10 public universities in Jordan; 295 questionnaires were suitable to analyze, with a response rate of 82.2%.

Findings

The results indicated the importance of increasing academic libraries – specifically academic libraries in Jordan – awareness about the vast and important role of libraries to support research and the public community by providing authentic information sources about the pandemic to increase public awareness about the pandemic, besides contributing to disseminating research related to the pandemic as well as producing related research. Libraries needed to adjust their collection and information services during the crisis as they looked for ways to support the users they serve. The results affirmed that access to information remains the social responsibility of librarians.

Practical implications

The findings will provide insights for other academic libraries on how to react in a crisis and maintain its role as a reliable information source.

Social implications

During the health pandemic, people needed support in terms of getting easy access to authentic and reliable information. Libraries hold a social responsibility to the local community, such as awareness campaigns, posting videos on health practices and hygiene on it websites and social media.

Originality/value

This paper provides insights and practical solutions for academic libraries in response to global health pandemics. It will help academic libraries handle and cope with the challenges of providing distance library services over digital channels.

中文翻译：

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约旦卫生危机期间学术图书馆和信息专家的作用：COVID-19 大流行案例

目的

COVID-19 迫使图书馆和其他机构要么对用户关闭大门，要么改变他们的服务程序。此时，图书馆应加大力度，满足信息服务在信息服务数量和质量方面日益增长的需求。本研究旨在从约旦学术图书馆的工作人员感知中探讨学术图书馆在危机时期的作用和责任。

设计/方法/方法

向在约旦 10 所公立大学工作的 359 名图书馆工作人员分发了一份问卷；适合分析的问卷295份，回收率为82.2%。

发现

结果表明，提高学术图书馆（尤其是约旦的学术图书馆）的重要性，即通过提供有关大流行的真实信息来源来提高公众对大流行的认识，同时提高对图书馆在支持研究和公共社区方面的巨大而重要作用的认识，以提高公众对大流行的认识。传播与大流行相关的研究以及进行相关研究。图书馆需要在危机期间调整其馆藏和信息服务，以寻找支持所服务用户的方法。结果证实，获取信息仍然是图书馆员的社会责任。

实际影响

研究结果将为其他学术图书馆提供有关如何在危机中做出反应并保持其作为可靠信息来源的作用的见解。

社会影响

在健康大流行期间，人们在轻松获取真实可靠信息方面需要支持。图书馆对当地社区负有社会责任，例如开展宣传活动、在其网站和社交媒体上发布有关健康实践和卫生的视频。

原创性/价值

本文为学术图书馆应对全球健康流行病提供了见解和实用的解决方案。它将帮助学术图书馆处理和应对通过数字渠道提供远程图书馆服务的挑战。