This study, based on data from 60 North American academic libraries, charts their re-opening plans, providing detailed data on the library foot traffic that they expect for the summer and fall semesters and how they plan to deal with the challenges of opening during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey provides data on plans to limit (or not) the number of students in the library, and which activities will be permitted, permitted with modifications, or banned. The study looks at how libraries plan to implement social distancing and hygiene concepts, and at plans to bring back, or not, or to what extents, staff to the library. The study looks at library strategies for a period that at most campuses is likely to include more distance and hybrid learning than in the past, and how this and other development affect academic library objectives and performance. The report provides data and commentary on plans for COVID testing of library employees and other measures to prevent or deal with potential outbreaks, in the library, and the college or university as a whole.
Just a few of this 62-page report’s many findings are that:
- Private colleges plan to bring back for physical work in the library a higher percentage of their employees than are public colleges.
- 46.7% of those sampled had confidence that their state governors would make good decisions on when to lift or relax stay at home orders in their state.
- 25% of junior colleges are planning for students to have full restoration of access to workstations for the Fall 2020 semester.
- 13.3% of libraries have a plan to test staff for COVID-19 prior to bringing them back to work in the library.
Table of Contents
1. THE QUESTIONNAIRE
2. PARTICIPANTS LIST
- Characteristics of the Sample
3. SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS
- What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in each of the following periods?
- Summer session 2020 (compared to summer session 2019)
- Fall semester 2020 (compared to fall semester 2019)
- If you have been making plans for a numeric limit on the number of library patrons allowed in the library at one time describe how you have gone about developing this policy, however fluid it might be at the moment.
- When you re-open the library, what percentage of the library personnel that typically work in the library building do you feel that you will bring back to work in the building right away?
- How much do you know about your college's plans for the summer session 2020?
- How much confidence do you have in your State's governor that stay at home orders will be lifted at an appropriate time?
- Has the library developed a plan for the library, its employees and patrons, to observe social distancing in the library?
- When your library begins to re-open do you plan to limit the number of individuals allowed in the library at one time?
- How will social distancing be enforced at your institution and what will be the penalties for infringement?
- How will the library count and otherwise track the number of people in the library and in various rooms and areas of the library?
- Which phrase best describes how the library plans to restore access to library workstations for the Fall 2020 semester?
- Interlibrary loan at your library will for the fall semester 2020?
- Does the college or library have a plan to test staff for the coronavirus prior to re-opening completely or partially?
- If so, what are these plans?
- To the best of your knowledge, how many library employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19 resulting from the coronavirus?
List of Tables
Table 1 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in each of the following periods?
Table 1.1.1 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in summer session 2020 (compared to summer session 2019)?
Table 1.1.2 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in summer session 2020 (compared to summer session 2019)? Broken out by age range
Table 1.1.3 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in summer session 2020 (compared to summer session 2019)? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 1.1.4 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in summer session 2020 (compared to summer session 2019)? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 1.1.5 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in summer session 2020 (compared to summer session 2019)? Broken out by enrollment
Table 1.1.6 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in summer session 2020 (compared to summer session 2019)? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 1.2.1 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in the fall semester 2020 (compared to fall semester 2019)?
Table 1.2.2 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in the fall semester 2020 (compared to fall semester 2019)? Broken out by age range
Table 1.2.3 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in the fall semester 2020 (compared to fall semester 2019)? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 1.2.4 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in the fall semester 2020 (compared to fall semester 2019)? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 1.2.5 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in the fall semester 2020 (compared to fall semester 2019)? Broken out by enrollment
Table 1.2.6 What is your best estimate of the percentage of normal customary foot traffic through the library that you expect to see in the fall semester 2020 (compared to fall semester 2019)? Broken out by tuition, $
If you have been making plans for a numeric limit on the number of library patrons allowed in the library at one time describe how you have gone about developing this policy, however fluid it might be at the moment. ? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 2.1 When you re-open the library what percentage of the library personnel that typically work in the library building do you feel that you will bring back to work in the building right away?
Table 2.2 When you re-open the library what percentage of the library personnel that typically work in the library building do you feel that you will bring back to work in the building right away? Broken out by age range
Table 2.3 When you re-open the library what percentage of the library personnel that typically work in the library building do you feel that you will bring back to work in the building right away? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 2.4 When you re-open the library what percentage of the library personnel that typically work in the library building do you feel that you will bring back to work in the building right away? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 2.5 When you re-open the library what percentage of the library personnel that typically work in the library building do you feel that you will bring back to work in the building right away? Broken out by enrollment
Table 2.6 When you re-open the library what percentage of the library personnel that typically work in the library building do you feel that you will bring back to work in the building right away? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 3.1 How much do you know about your college's plans for the summer session 2020?
Table 3.2 How much do you know about your college's plans for the summer session 2020? Broken out by age range
Table 3.3 How much do you know about your college's plans for the summer session 2020? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 3.4 How much do you know about your college's plans for the summer session 2020? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 3.5 How much do you know about your college's plans for the summer session 2020? Broken out by enrollment
Table 3.6 How much do you know about your college's plans for the summer session 2020? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 4.1 How much confidence do you have in your State's governor that stay at home orders will be lifted at an appropriate time?
Table 4.2 How much confidence do you have in your State's governor that stay at home orders will be lifted at an appropriate time? Broken out by age range
Table 4.3 How much confidence do you have in your State's governor that stay at home orders will be lifted at an appropriate time? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 4.4 How much confidence do you have in your State's governor that stay at home orders will be lifted at an appropriate time? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 4.5 How much confidence do you have in your State's governor that stay at home orders will be lifted at an appropriate time? Broken out by enrollment
Table 4.6 How much confidence do you have in your State's governor that stay at home orders will be lifted at an appropriate time? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 5.1 Has the library developed a plan for the library, its employees and patrons, to observe social distancing in the library?
Table 5.2 Has the library developed a plan for the library, its employees and patrons, to observe social distancing in the library? Broken out by age range
Table 5.3 Has the library developed a plan for the library, its employees and patrons, to observe social distancing in the library? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 5.4 Has the library developed a plan for the library, its employees and patrons, to observe social distancing in the library? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 5.5 Has the library developed a plan for the library, its employees and patrons, to observe social distancing in the library? Broken out by enrollment
Table 5.6 Has the library developed a plan for the library, its employees and patrons, to observe social distancing in the library? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 6.1 When your library begins to re-open do you plan to limit the number of individuals allowed in the library at one time?
Table 6.2 When your library begins to re-open do you plan to limit the number of individuals allowed in the library at one time? Broken out by age range
Table 6.3 When your library begins to re-open do you plan to limit the number of individuals allowed in the library at one time? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 6.4 When your library begins to re-open do you plan to limit the number of individuals allowed in the library at one time? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 6.5 When your library begins to re-open do you plan to limit the number of individuals allowed in the library at one time? Broken out by enrollment
Table 6.6 When your library begins to re-open do you plan to limit the number of individuals allowed in the library at one time? Broken out by tuition, $
How will social distancing be enforced at your institution and what will be the penalties for infringement? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
How will the library count and otherwise track the number of people in the library and in various rooms and areas of the library? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 7.1 Which phrase best describes how the library plans to restore access to library workstations for the Fall 2020 semester?
Table 7.2 Which phrase best describes how the library plans to restore access to library workstations for the Fall 2020 semester? Broken out by age range
Table 7.3 Which phrase best describes how the library plans to restore access to library workstations for the Fall 2020 semester? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 7.4 Which phrase best describes how the library plans to restore access to library workstations for the Fall 2020 semester? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 7.5 Which phrase best describes how the library plans to restore access to library workstations for the Fall 2020 semester? Broken out by enrollment
Table 7.6 Which phrase best describes how the library plans to restore access to library workstations for the Fall 2020 semester? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 8.1 Interlibrary loan at your library will for the fall semester 2020?
Table 8.2 Interlibrary loan at your library will for the fall semester 2020? Broken out by age range
Table 8.3 Interlibrary loan at your library will for the fall semester 2020? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 8.4 Interlibrary loan at your library will for the fall semester 2020? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 8.5 Interlibrary loan at your library will for the fall semester 2020? Broken out by enrollment
Table 8.6 Interlibrary loan at your library will for the fall semester 2020? Broken out by tuition, $
Table 9.1 Does the college or library have a plan to test staff for the coronavirus prior to re-opening completely or partially?
Table 9.2 Does the college or library have a plan to test staff for the coronavirus prior to re-opening completely or partially? Broken out by age range
Table 9.3 Does the college or library have a plan to test staff for the coronavirus prior to re-opening completely or partially? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 9.4 Does the college or library have a plan to test staff for the coronavirus prior to re-opening completely or partially? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 9.5 Does the college or library have a plan to test staff for the coronavirus prior to re-opening completely or partially? Broken out by enrollment
Table 9.6 Does the college or library have a plan to test staff for the coronavirus prior to re-opening completely or partially? Broken out by tuition, $
If so what are these plans? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 10.1 To the best of your knowledge how many library employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19 resulting from the coronavirus?
Table 10.2 To the best of your knowledge how many library employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19 resulting from the coronavirus? Broken out by age range
Table 10.3 To the best of your knowledge how many library employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19 resulting from the coronavirus? Broken out by your college or university is public or private?
Table 10.4 To the best of your knowledge how many library employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19 resulting from the coronavirus? Broken out by Carnegie Class or type of college
Table 10.5 To the best of your knowledge how many library employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19 resulting from the coronavirus? Broken out by enrollment
Table 10.6 To the best of your knowledge how many library employees have been diagnosed with Covid-19 resulting from the coronavirus? Broken out by tuition, $
Samples
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Sources / Contributors
- Bethany Lutheran College
- Bishop's University
- Buffalo State College (SUNY)
- California University of Science and Medicine
- Campbell University
- Coe College
- Eastern New Mexico University
- Eastwick College
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Europe
- Farmingdale State College
- Florida Atlantic university
- Florida Memorial University
- Frederick Community College
- Goldfarb School of Nursing
- Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
- Graduate Theological Union Library
- Hamline University
- Hawkeye Community College
- Indiana University South Bend
- Iowa Lakes Community College
- Keiser University
- Kilgore College
- Lawrence Technological University
- Longwood University
- Mansfield University
- Mercer County Community College
- MSU Billings Library
- North Park University
- Northwest Florida State College
- OSU-Tulsa
- Ozarka College
- Pfeiffer University
- Point Loma Nazarene University
- Queen's University
- Richmont Graduate University
- Roberts Wesleyan College
- Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology
- Seminole State College of Florida
- Spring Hill College
- Sul Ross State University
- Swansea University
- Texas A&M University-Kingsville
- Thomas Jefferson University
- University Canada West
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Detroit Mercy
- University of Dubuque
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- University of North Dakota
- University of North Texas
- University of Western Australia
- University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Utica College
- Wayne State College
- Webber International University
- Western Illinois University
- Western New England University
- Western Theological Seminary
- Yeshiva University
Methodology
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