Perception of Librarians on COVID-19 Information and Sensitization
PDF

How to Cite

OYELUDE, A. A., Ebijuwa, A. S., Ahmad , H. S. ., Abba , M. A. ., & Nongo , C. J. . (2022). Perception of Librarians on COVID-19 Information and Sensitization: Challenges and Change Agenda. International Journal of Librarianship, 7(1), 79–98. https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2022.vol7.1.233
Received 2022-02-25
Accepted 2022-05-16
Published 2022-07-18

Abstract

Librarians across Africa have had to portray proactive measures in combating the spread of Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic. They were faced with the probability of how libraries would function amidst employees calling for closures while seeking for safety and looking for how to activate open access e-resources, minding workers’ rights and copyright guidelines on these e-resources. Their perception on providing health information sensitization to their immediate community, the challenges and facing the change agenda was the focus of this paper. Respondents were drawn from different libraries for the survey which adopted qualitative research methodology through interviews. The data collected were thematically analyzed to answer the research questions. Findings indicated that librarians perceived the COVID-19 sensitization as a challenge that could be overwhelming, but achievable with support from stakeholders, the government and non-governmental agencies. Recommendations were that the new normal has brought changes to information processing and dissemination. Librarians and libraries should thrive in this new reality and remain more responsive. Furthermore, enhanced impact assessment should be carried out to find out how the measures of sensitization on the pandemic became effective.

https://doi.org/10.23974/ijol.2022.vol7.1.233
PDF

References

African Library & Information Associations & Institutions. (2019). Misinformation on COVID19: Call to action. Retrieved from https://web.aflia.net/misinformation-on-COVID-19-callto-action/ on 10th March 2020.

Ali, M. Y., & Gatiti, P. (2020). The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic: reflections on the roles of librarians and information professionals. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 37, 2; 158–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12307.

Beetseh, K., Olise, F. N. & Tor-Akwer, H. F. (2021). Librarians’ Perception on the use of Social Media as a tool for Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Benue State. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 5041. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/5041.

Belser, J. A., Maines, T. R., Tumpey, T. M., & Katz, J. M. (2010). Influenza A virus transmission: contributing factors and clinical implications. Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine, 12, e39. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1462399410001705.

Blake, S. & Ngo, T. (2020). Rapid Review of Community Engagement and Social Mobilization Strategies for COVID-19 Response: Study description. New York: Population Council. Retrieved from https://knowledgecommons.popcouncil.org/departments_sbsr-pgy/980/.

Brown, W. K. (2020). Libraries adapt amid crisis: Finding inspiration from library workers across the country. American Libraries. May 1. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2020/05/01/libraries-adapt-amid-crisis/.

Chukwuyere, A. E., Nwanneka, O. I., Chukwudebelu, C. C. & Chidiebere, E. B. (2020). Librarians’ use of social media in disseminating health information on COVID-19. International Journal of Research and Review, 7, 7; 443-454.

Cohen, M. (2020). Does the COVID-19 outbreak mark the onset of a sustainable consumption transition? December 2020 Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy, 16, 1; 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2020.1740472.

Diso, L. I. (2010). Information and knowledge input based in National policy planning: factoring the library in Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020. Nigerian Libraries, 43, 29-45.

Ekere, J. N., Omekwu, C. O. & Nwoha, C. N. (2016). Users’ Perception of the facilities, resources and services of the MTN digital library at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 1390. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphil prac/1390.

Emasealu, H. U., & Umeozor, S. N. (2015). Bridging the gap between town and gown: role of librarians in community service programmes. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1306

Featherstone R. M., Lyon B. J., and Ruffin, A. B. (2008). Library roles in disaster response: an oral history project by the National library of medicine. Journal of Medical Library Association. 96, 4; 343–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.3163/1536-5050.96.4.009.

Hu, D., Lou, X., Xu, Z., Meng, N., Xie, Q., Zhang, M., Zou, Y., Liu, J., Sun, G., & Wang, F. (2020). More effective strategies are required to strengthen public awareness of COVID-19: Evidence from Google Trends. Journal of Global Health, 10, 1; 011003. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.10.011003.

Idhalama, O. U. (2020). Perception and attitude of library and information professionals towards COVID 19 pandemic and the compulsory lockdown in Nigeria. Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (QQML), Special Issue. Libraries in the age of COVID-19. 9: 133–151.

Igwe, K. N., Ugwuogu, U. O. & Okechukwu, I. C. (2019). Dialogue for Change: factoring community information centres into rural development programmes in Nigeria: A Conference paper presented at the 57th NLA Conference. 1-8. Effurun-Warri, Delta State.

Ilori, A. (2020). Self-policing COVID-19 and civic responsibilities in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.08.20092080.

Kennedy, M.L. (2020). Mitigating COVID-19: The contribution research libraries are making. Retrieved from https://www.arl.org/news/mitigating-COVID-19-the-contribution-researchlibraries-are-making/ on 3rd March 2020.

Sim, S. W., Money, S. P. & Tan, N. C. (2014). The use of facemasks to prevent respiratory infection: a literature review in the context of the Health Belief Model. Singapore Medical Journal. 55, 3; 160–167. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2014037.

Malizia, M., Hamilton, R., Littrell, D., Vargas, K., & Olney, C. (2012). Connecting public libraries with community emergency responders. Public libraries 51: 32-36. https://www.researchgate.net>2740.

Nkengasong, J. N., & Mankoula, W. (2020). Looming threat of COVID-19 infection in Africa: act collectively, and fast. Lancet (London, England), 395(10227), 841–842. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30464-5.

Nongo, C. J., & Ode, M. (2018). Information Literacy for sustainable development goals in Nigeria: Implication for healthy living. In Nwokocha, U. and Nwachukwu, V. N. (Eds.), Information literacy, sustainable development goals and library and information science education. Pp 121-141. Abia. Vino Cafe Ventures.

Orakpor, A.M. (2009). Communication in English without fear. Revised edition. Anambra: J. Goshen Publishers.

Smith, A., & Freedman, D. O. (2020). Isolation, quarantine, social distancing and community containment: pivotal role for old-style public health measures in the novel coronavirus outbreak. Journal of Travel Medicine, 27(2).

Ventra, D F, L., Marques di Giulio, G. & Rached, D. H. (2020). Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: Sustainability is an indispensable condition of Global Health Security. Sao Polo, 23, 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-4422asoc2020108vu2020L3ID.

Youth Do It. (2019). Sensitization: Awareness raising. Retrieved from https://www.youthdoit.org/themes/awareness-raising/sensitization/.

WHO (2020). WHO Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation report-51. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2020. https://covid19.who.int/ [26 August 2020].

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2022 International Journal of Librarianship

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.