Preparedness of Nigerian University Libraries and Librarians for Service Delivery in Post Covid 19

Abstract

: The study adopted a descriptive survey design which sought information on the preparedness of academic libraries in Nigerian universities for post COVID-19 pandemic library service delivery. The study was conducted in Anambra State of Nigeria. The population for the study comprised of all the 10 academic librarians in the libraries in the 3 campuses of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Anambra State. There was no sampling because of their small size. The instrument for data collection was a self-developed questionnaire entitled COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness Questionnaire (CPPQ). Data collected were analysed using mean. The major findings of the study included that all categories: ensuring access to soap and warm water, ensuring they have a supply of hand sanitizers, keeping surfaces clean were some of the measures libraries adopted to mitigate COVID-19 pandemic; staff were advised to work from home, online services were adopted, zoom trainings was always there to ensure the staff safety from the virus: among the problems were inadequate fund, power failure and poor internet services. Based on the findings, the study recommends among others that academic libraries should provide free Wi-Fi around the library and prepare the library’s physical surroundings for people to study in groups of two, three, and more, without necessarily entering the library, government should provide more funding for academic libraries to meet with contemporary best global practices in their library as the library reopens amid the COVID-19 pandemic.