Lockdown has been no meltdown for the faculty librarian team of the Library and Information Service. During Covid-19, faculty librarians have overcome various challenges to assist clients with their information needs including moving from face-to-face to online training, providing off-campus information assistance and overseeing access to library buildings.
Group training meltdown averted
Traditionally, SU faculty librarians present information literacy classes in a face-to-face classroom environment. These sessions are presented to clients on campus. Literally hundreds of these sessions are presented each year. As a result of the success of these training sessions, librarians are very comfortable in the classroom environment.
When Covid-19 lockdown kicked in, the situation drastically changed and suddenly librarians were forced out of their comfort zones. Ice-cream floats started to melt. Not for long though… Training for the 2020 academic year was an ongoing concern, because SU management was adamant that the 2020 academic year would be completed successfully. Librarians therefore had to step up, adapt and create new comfort zones using online collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams.
Faculty librarians quickly learned the Teams tools of the trade and learnt a valuable lesson along the lockdown route: find a library buddy to assist you with technical challenges such as log-in problems, connecting latecomers and answering chat questions during Teams training sessions. Ice-cream floats to all trainers during lockdown.
Client assistance meltdown averted
Information assistance to off-campus clients is not new, but previously faculty librarians delivered this service from the comfort of their office chairs. Now librarians were also working from off-campus and experienced the same frustrations that our off-campus clients periodically experience with accessing information. Mark that down to another lockdown reality check.
Fortunately, faculty librarians’ service commitment went into overdrive: support your clients by whatever means necessary (within the law, of course). Call it over-servicing or assisting, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Faculty librarians had to ensure the clients’ 2020 academic year stayed afloat. Practical example: With support from Technical Services, clients received access to new e-books at the speed of lightning. Ice-cream floats to the Technical Services colleagues.
Library access meltdown averted
Fact: Clients missed the library building. Faculty librarians received numerous requests during lockdown as to when the building would re-open. When it finally did, with all the necessary safety protocols in place, clients were tremendously relieved, even though they were still not allowed ice-cream floats in the building. 
The circulation staff were crucial to welcome our clients back and ensure everyone’s safety in the libraries. The circulation staff all deserve ice-cream floats for their professional, patient, and friendly (but firm) welcoming of returning clients to the libraries.
It just goes to show what great teamwork can accomplish.
Pieter du Plessis
Photo: Google Images