Impact of COVID-19 on Academic Library Service Delivery in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The higher and tertiary education system was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic leading to tremendous changes in service delivery in academic libraries. All the higher education stakeholders were affected including lecturers, students, researchers, and librarians, and they were forced to adjust accordingly in order to remain relevant. A survey was done using a multiple case study design where online questionnaires were distributed and participant observation were used to collect data from three academic libraries in Zimbabwe. It was discovered that academic libraries changed the way they deliver their services to meet the new demands when teaching and learning was shifted to online as a way of curbing the spreading of the virus. The author recommends that academic librarians should be continuously trained to deal with the skills gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is need to provide appropriate information and communication technology infrastructure and the supporting policies and guidelines for academic libraries to continue supporting the research, teaching and learning activities in the COVID-19 environment.