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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 11, No. 5

Publication Date: May 25, 2024

DOI:10.14738/assrj.115.15675.

Lowe, D., Rose, S. L., & Harris, C. (2024). Same Services New Operations in the Face of Challenges: The Impact on Library Services at

the University of Guyana. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(5). 221-235.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Same Services New Operations in the Face of Challenges: The

Impact on Library Services at the University of Guyana

Debra Lowe

Turkeyen Campus, University of Guyana

Simmone La Rose

Berbice Campus, University of Guyana

Clyden Harris

Turkeyen Campus, University of Guyana

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the University of Guyana to close its physical

campuses on March 16, 2020. This closure affected the predominantly manual

operations of the university. This study examines the impact of the COVID 19

pandemic on the University of Guyana Library, providing a synopsis of some of the

issues encountered during the period and how they were addressed. A case study

approach was used to investigate the phenomenon. The methodology used for

collecting and analyzing the data was qualitative and descriptive in nature,

adapting the purposive sampling technique. A questionnaire was used to elicit

responses from key library personnel who were actively involved in managing the

library during the pandemic. Data was also gathered from participatory

observations. The results indicated that against all odds, the library adapted its

services using various initiatives to continue serving its patrons, and conducted

aspects of library administrative work in order to identify deficiencies for

future strengthening and enhancement in preparation for a blended mode of

operation.

Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, academic library, library services, pandemic

The challenges experienced by academic librarians are continually evolving as changes occur

in the operating environment at the global and institutional levels. The pandemic in 2020

brought about the need for drastic changes globally in all segments of human existence,

including learning at all levels. Universities globally, including the University of Guyana (UG),

whose programs were mainly conducted in the face-to-face mode, were severely affected by

the changes necessitated by the strict COVID-19 protocols. The University of Guyana

immediately responded by putting systems in place to mitigate the challenges that were being

experienced, devising new ways to continue its teaching and learning services in order to

continue to fulfill its mandate. This resulted in a number of activities occurring simultaneously

across the campuses to launch online services at all levels in the faculties, service units and

other sections of the campuses. This led to the fast-tracking of new modes of operations for

teaching and learning, from a manual face-to-face operation to an online format in order to stay

abreast with the plans of the parent institution. The library was not exempted from this change,

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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 11, Issue 5, May-2024

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

and also quickly sought ways to make its services accessible online to uphold its mandate to

support teaching and research at the university.

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Situating the Study

Libraries are not static; they constantly evolve as the environment changes so as to be able to

serve at their optimal potential. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were no different from

other environmental changes and were therefore used as a catalyst for change in many areas.

The realities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic led to countries, includingGuyana,

shutting down most of their operations and services, offering only those services classified as

essential and implementing the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols; such as social distancing.

The decision of the government of Guyana to lockdown the country led to the university’s

closure, and foregrounded the need for the institution to quickly make the necessary and

appropriate adaptations to its services so as to remain relevant in a very competitive

environment. The University of Guyana was now competing with universities globally to retain

its existing student body and to attract new ones. The University of Guyana Library was

therefore forced to align itself with the plans of its parent institution. It quickly assessed its

existing services and sought ways to transition from its manual systems to provide online

services in order to uphold its mandate to support teaching and research as well as support

national development. This paper provides perspectives on the adjustments made to existing

services and the changes that were necessary to make them relevant to the online teaching

and learning environment. It also highlights some of the challenges experienced during the

adjustment and the implementation of the new service operations, and what steps were taken

to mitigate these challenges.

Brief History of the University of Guyana Library

The University of Guyana Library (UGL) came into being in 1963 with the establishment of

Guyana’s premier university campus at the Queen’s College Compound. It was subsequently

relocated to its permanent place of operation at Turkeyen in 1969 (Kabdebo & Stephenson,

1970). When the university extended it service by opening a campus in Berbice in 2000,

(Rawana, 2000), the Berbice Campus Library was birthed. This resulted in two Campus

Libraries operating as one institution, The University of Guyana Library.

From its inception, the Turkeyen campus library provided printed materials and then began

incorporating technology. The younger Berbice campus library, while also providing printed

materials, quickly began the process of facilitating and designing its services to incorporate the

use of modern technologies into all phases of its operations. In particular, it introduced the

Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) in 2007, and adopted the use of Facebook in 2012 and cell

phones in 2016.

The University of Guyana Library supports the mission of its parent institution, the University

of Guyana, which is to “To discover, generate, disseminate, and apply knowledge of the highest

standard for the service of community, the nation, and of all mankind within an atmosphere of

academic freedom that allows for free and critical enquiry” (University of Guyana Library, 2021,

iii). In this regard, the library plays a crucial role in supporting the teaching, learning and

research of the university community (Holder, 1993). This is accomplished through its four