In times of crisis
Chris Buckingham, President, Public Libraries Victoria
If you ever needed proof of the critical importance of
public libraries, the COVID–19 pandemic has delivered the evidence in full.
Over recent years there has been growing recognition that
public libraries play a much deeper role in community than the storage and
distribution of information. Encouraging people to read is part of our DNA, but
now more than ever public libraries have a vital role bringing people together and
strengthening communities.
One of hardest parts of closing our doors for lockdown was
knowing how many people would lose their safe place, their social support, or the
internet access they don’t have at home. We had to reconcile this with the
knowledge that if we continued to trade, we were putting library users and
staff at risk of COVID-19.
Library teams have responded in awe-inspiring ways, using innovation
and creativity to stay connected to their communities. We have seen contactless
home deliveries, expanded online catalogues of eResources, and online
storytimes that achieve thousands of views.
We have seen staff provide online support for jobseekers, make
thousands of outbound Caring Calls phone
calls to people aged over 70, set up ‘Ask a Librarian’ services and offer IT support.
The sector looks forward to re-opening our doors in a
responsible and considered way when stay at home restrictions ease. There are
literally hundreds of thousands of Victorians who will need our support through
the recovery process. Job seekers, students, creatives and small businesses
head up the list from an economic inclusion perspective. We should also
remember that libraries are a place for the homeless, the lonely, and people needing
free and equitable access to public space.
It is critically important that public libraries are able to
play their important role early in the recovery process. Libraries really do
change lives.