This study presents data and commentary from 62 library deans and directors about how their libraries are planning for the post pandemic period. Survey participants discuss, among other issues: future development of online info literacy training and assessment, online tutorials, special retention efforts, re-allocation of space use in the library and use of student workers post pandemic. In addition, the survey participants discuss the pandemic’s impact on library staffing and budgets and much more
Just a few of the 50-page report’s many findings are that:
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Librarians were quite active in developing more and better online tutorials and most are planning for a continuing relatively high level of online class utilization.
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Librarians felt that a mean of a shade less than 71% of their students would primarily be taking in-person classes in September 2021.
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Big tent in person orientations were the rule before COVID but smaller, more targeted online orientations may play a bigger role in the future.
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43% of research university libraries in the sample are taking part in special COVID-related student retention initiatives.
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40% of librarians sampled said that they had little idea of what the traffic flow to the library will be in September.
Data in the report is broken out by size and type of institution, by tuition level, for public and private institutions and enrollment level as well as by some personal characteristics of survey respondents.