Barbara Schleihagen, Executive Director, German Library Association During the first lockdown, many libraries started offering innovative services, like book delivery, virtual readings, digital activities to join in and a jointly offered #twittothek to answer user questions. Now in the second lockdown, while all cultural institutions must close during November, libraries as essential educational institutions are kept open, at least for basic lending services or book collecting services. They have enlarged their online offers like reading aloud sessions, online workshops for fact checking or e-learning portals. The German library association applied successfully for national government funding (ca 12 million euros) to improve the digital infrastructure of libraries especially in rural areas to support them to serve their community better. #CILIPConf20 #rolelibrariesincrisis

1. Experiences from Germany
Barbara Schleihagen, Executive Director
German Library Association
COVID-19 pandemic:
The role of libraries in crisis
and recovery
November 19th, 2020

2. 2
Public libraries contribute to the
development of society with their wide
range of information resources and
services
How do they meet the increased and changing demands and needs of their
communities during the pandemic?
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020

3. 3
Increased demand for e-media:
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020
• expansion of digital library collection
• temporarily free access to digital services
• temporarily digital registration

4. 4
Increased demand for digital events:
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020
• virtual readings
• digital activities to take part
in
• reading lessons via YouTube
or Facebook
• podcasts
• information help desk via
Twitter
• links on library websites to
digital cultural events

5. 5
Increased need for reliable information:
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020
• Online portal for
fact checking

6. 6
Need to gain knowledge about research
and information procurement:
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020
• e-tutorials and online webinars

7. 7
Increased need for committed staff that
adopts new skills and reacts flexible with
creative ideas
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020

8. 8
Challenges
• How to be better prepared for future closures?
• How to take up the innovative impetus?
• How to perpetuate temporarily services in a sustainable matter?
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020
Solution
New national funding programme for libraries and archives:
“Culture Re-booted”

9. 9
Current challenge in lockdown
How to keep the library relevant as a platform for community activities and
for social debates?
CILIP Conference 2020 Session11/19/2020

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