Integrated Library System as a Panacea to Sustainable Library Services Delivery in an Era of Pandemic

The Purpose This Paper

It is no longer news, that COVID-19 is a pandemic. What is news now is the aftermath of the disease on the economy, organizations, nations and individuals. The library as a social institution responsible for educating people regardless of status, sex, religion, etc through the provision and dissemination of information had her fair share of the impact of the virus. As revealed by National Authorities of Public Libraries in Europe (NAPLE) (2020), most member libraries shut down in March, 2020 thus focusing on online services and digital content with staff members of most of these libraries working from home while some who were made to report to work, worked under strict physical distancing with the provision of anti-bacteria gel. The story is same in other countries. In developing countries like Nigeria where most of the libraries were not and have not been automated, it was total closure with users left stranded and academic programs grounded.

It is in view of this development that this write-up becomes imperative as to having a look at the impact of pandemic on libraries and librarians as custodian of knowledge, mangers of information and information disseminators as well as how an integrated library system (ILS) can function as a panacea to sustainable library service in a period of pandemic