Digital library services to support online learning amid COVID-19: a study of a private university library in Bangladesh
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-03-2021-0025 |
| Published date | 05 January 2022 |
| Date | 05 January 2022 |
| Pages | 332-345 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
| Author | Dilara Begum,Md. Hasinul Elahi |
Digital library services to support
online learning amid COVID-19: a
study of a private university
library in Bangladesh
Dilara Begum and Md. Hasinul Elahi
Department of Information Studies and Library Management,
East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Abstract
Purpose –The purposeof this paper is to discuss the East West UniversityLibrary’s (EWUL’s) response to
COVID-19 situation through their transformation to digital services. The paper tries to explain how these
digital library services supportthe user community of East West University (EWU) in online teaching and
access to informationresources.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper describes the EWUL’s several digital services that are used
to meet the needs of its user community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reflective practice approach has
been undertaken for this study on the basis of the authors’personalexperiences working at an academic library.
The authors used the reflectivep ractice approachto assess the library’s practice during crisis situation, make the
use of technological interventionsin service providing and also to re-innovate the digital services for future.
Findings –During the pandemic, the library shifted allthe possible physical or on-site services to digital
services, i.e. online resource facilities and remote access to these, federated searching, Web online public
access catalog, engagingusers through social media, specialized knowledgespace, online document delivery,
article on request,information literacy training,virtual reference service, etc. The user engagementin all these
servicesis also notable.
Research limitations/implications –The nature of this study is limited to the COVID-19 pandemic
and withina particular geographic location.
Practical implications –This paper has implications and possible applications for other university
libraries in developing countries, which intends to transform their services into digital for ensuring better
servicequality for their respective user community.
Originality/value –This paper makesa valuable contribution to the literature on how a privateuniversity
library ofa developing country is responding to pandemicssuch as COVID-19.
Keywords Online learning, Bangladesh, COVID-19, Digital library services,
East West University Library, Higher education
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
The first sign of COVID-19 was marked when China on 31 December, 2019, reported cases of
pneumonia with unknown causes to the World Health Organization (WHO). After that, the
WHO published their first disease outbreak news on the COVID-19 along with risk assessment,
advice and health measures (WHO, 2021). Soon, the rapid transmission of COVID-19 started to
take place across the countries globally. The world witnessed a diverse form of adverse effects
of COVID-19 in every sector ranging from health, economy to education. The educational
institutions like other institutions all over the world were shut down due to the outbreak of
COVID-19. The pandemic has a wide range of negative impact particularly for higher
DLP
38,3
332
Received26 March 2021
Revised29 June 2021
12September 2021
Accepted11 October 2021
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.38 No. 3, 2022
pp. 332-345
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-03-2021-0025
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/2059-5816.htm
To continue reading
Request your trial