The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown regulations on service delivery in South African public libraries: a case study of eThekwini Municipality libraries (EML).

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of the covid-19 lockdown regulations on service delivery in South African Public Libraries, focusing on the eThekwini Municipality Libraries (EML). The study also explores how the EML responded to the covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions in terms of the delivery of its services to the public and the extent to which such a response impacted access to a diverse category of library users during the covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The underlying aim of the study is to provide approaches that could be employed to address the identified gaps in the EML responses to the covid-19 pandemic lockdown as a way of improving the provision of services during such a pandemic in future. The positivism paradigm was used because not every member of the target population had an equal chance of taking part in the study. The study is based on a quantitative approach and guided by a descriptive design. The study’s target population are the EML employees in KwaZulu-Natal province, with a sample size of 100, out of which 65% responded. The analysis of the data made use of SPSS statistical software. The findings indicate that covid-19 impacted the EML in various ways, such that the EML had to embark on remote working and reduced working hours of its operations, besides popularising the use of the digital library to its users, and limiting physical access to some of its users too. The impact also includes the constraining of the EML resources, and the suspension of the EML services in certain areas. Recommendations made include the need for the EML to up skill and empower its employees, the standardisation of the EML processes and resources across all its facilities, and the need for the EML to have collaborations and partnerships with other role players and stakeholders as a way of enhancing the quality of its operations and approaches in dealing with challenges of a crisis.