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European Libraries during the Coronavirus Crisis

Anya Feltreuter has a degree from the Swedish School of Library and Information Science at the University
of Borås, Sweden. She has been working in libraries for 13 years, 5 years as a librarian and 8 years as a
Library Director. She is currently the Library Director of Mjolby Public Library, Sweden, and the Chair of
IFLA Management & Marketing Section.

Following the publication of the report Demokratins skattkammare – förslag till en nationell
biblioteksstrategi [Democracy’s treasure chest – a proposal for a national library strategy], there was a
great deal of debate in Sweden about the role of libraries in a crisis. And now the crisis is here. The
coronavirus pandemic has led to libraries, and all other organizations, having to rethink and reset. Public
libraries are not unused to adapting their activities to the prevailing societal situation. They were quick to
act during the refugee crisis of 2015-2016; new activities were started, opening hours changed and
routines developed in order to manage undocumented migrants.

Although the situation in 2015-2016 was entirely different to the situation in 2020, there are still many
similarities. Not long after the pandemic was declared, the Bibliotek i Coronakris [Libraries in the
coronavirus crisis] Facebook group was created. Here, library staff from across Sweden share their ideas
and experiences of outreach activities for our users. “Take away” is a concept that rapidly established
itself in Sweden. Anyone who is unable, or does not wish, to visit the library in person, can contact a
librarian who will collect the requested media and leave it outside the library for them to collect. In some
municipalities, public libraries have gone one step further by delivering the requested media direct to
people’s homes.

Digital storytimes, livestream theatre, or why not a digital tea party? E-books, digital magazines or
streamed films? There are endless opportunities for digital readers. Some public libraries in Sweden have
closed, but most remain open and have introduced risk-reducing measures. The situation is different in
other countries; restaurants, shops, schools and libraries are closed across much of Europe.

Restrictions vary from country to country; some have permitted the “take away” concept, while others
have prohibited inhabitants from being on the streets at all. All libraries in Estonia were closed, but many
were offering take away services. Tallinn Central Library has made its e-book collection available to all
Estonian citizens. However, according to librarian Krista Visas at Pärnu Central Library, many people
have grown tired of digital formats and now want to access physical media. She also says that closed
libraries are a major problem for people who cannot access the internet or who do not have a computer
or smartphone at home. Many of the library’s “regulars” are late paying their bills, because they cannot
access computers anywhere else. It is times like these when we see how important libraries are to people,
she says. Krista also mentions that many children have started to read more. One positive effect of closures
in many areas across the rest of society.

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