7 - COVID-19: Libraries’ responses to the global health emergency

Abstract

In this global health emergency, most information organizations have either closed their premises or operated with restrictions in their services, staff, and patrons, at the same time they are called to cope with significant and ongoing changes on services, spaces, and other professional aspects. Librarians obtain the necessary knowledge and skills to expand the provided services; address issues that were brought forward during the pandemic outbreak, namely, misinformation; address use of trusted information available through several channels of communication; develop and promote e-health literacy assisting people to access, evaluate, and use digital health information; organize initiatives to develop digital skills as well as digital inclusion. This could either minimize or eliminate the increase of inequality observed in the COVID period, especially for populations at risk.