Navigating the COVID-19 slipstream: A case study on living and managing access services during a global pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Access Service Departments are dynamic units that often thrive in an ever changing environment. This became more apparent as libraries across the world faced the outbreak of COVID-19. The Access Services Department of one mid-sized academic library was one of a handful of libraries in the state that remained open to serve patrons on campus. This case study will address the challenges Access Services faced during COVID-19 including concerns about patron and staff safety along with the sanitation of physical materials and spaces was balanced with the need to provide access to equipment, physical collection, and library support.