Library Websites During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Issue 1 (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mnzava, Ester E; Katabalwa, Annajoyce S
• Is Part Of: Alexandria. Volume 31:Issue 1/3(2021)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 22
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Library website -- COVID-19 pandemic -- research libraries -- university libraries -- website -- coronavirus pandemic; Library science -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; 020.5
• DOI: 10.1177/09557490211058869
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-7490

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to impact the business environment in different ways. The current paper presents how the university and research library websites in Tanzania responded to the changes in the working environment and style following the outbreak of COVID-19. This study employed a content analysis method to collect and analyse data from academic and research library websites in Tanzania. This study focuses on how library websites in Tanzania were used to update and connect library users with relevant information resources and services during the outbreak of the COVID-19. The findings show that 12 of the 24 library websites had the opening and closing hours, two university library websites had information related to the outbreak of the COVID-19 and 12 had no information related to the outbreak of the COVID-19. This study has an important practical implication for the academic and research librarians on the effective use of library websites for information sharing and communication.