Public Libraries and COVID-19: Perceptions and Politics in the United States

Public librarians across the United States found themselves in different political environments that challenged their ability to serve their communities, to provide the information that was needed, and to fight disinformation regarding the pandemic. Researchers at the University of Missouri examined how and what librarians communicated to the public about COVID-19. A survey was sent to a systematic sample of libraries from all states and service-area sizes, carried out from January 24 to February 7, 2022. A total of 106 responses were received, with 66 respondents having answered every question. Analysis of closed- and open-ended survey responses points to public librarians’ concerns about (a) local government officials and their decisions, (b) resistance on the part of patrons to accurate information, and (c) problems disentangling the local conversation from national media (and social media) perspectives.