Directions for the development of a modern library in a higher education institution during the Covid-19 pandemic
Most modern libraries in higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic were actually closed to visitors and stopped working in a format familiar to all users, and nevertheless, they actively interacted with them. Only a few libraries in higher education institutions offered to print the materials necessary for the user, mainly for teachers living on the so-called university campuses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it also became apparent that the already existing digitized collection and the electronic resources at the disposal of libraries are the most important condition for serving users during the period of forced self-isolation. For example, most libraries updated their web pages during the pandemic, following a library modernization strategy, with libraries starting to use online offerings. They mainly communicated with users by phone, WhatsApp and email. Yet websites and social media tools made little use of communication tools during the pandemic. In this article, the author examines the directions for the development of a modern library of a higher educational institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the distance learning period, library staff were able to promote and coordinate the development of new curricula, collaborating with teachers to develop teaching aids and courses. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of providing access to electronic resources, and libraries have been able to acquire large amounts of digital content.