Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Librarianship in the Global South: A Renewed Mission for Libraries and LIS Professionals during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

COVID-19 undoubtedly brought about drastic and dramatic change in library service delivery. Libraries adopted several  strategies to ensure that their services were continuously offered without significant interruptions.  Consequently, this  article focused on reshaping libraries after the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlighted the  impact of the pandemic on  libraries and library professionals. With the adjustment in the pattern of service  delivery, the article also examined the  new normal caused by the pandemic and possible barriers to adapting to  this new normal. The library services,  innovations, and experiences of libraries and their professionals during  the pandemic were critically examined. The  future of libraries is also discussed after the analysis of experts’  predictions put forward in various forms.