Librarian & Head, Central Library Indian Institute of Technology Delhi South Delhi, Delhi, India
The world is still passing through a very time from last over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. This scenario has been unprecedented, strange, unknown, weird, confusing, risky, and required social distancing, use of masks, soaps, sanitiser, etc. With this background, the poster discusses about the different sectors affected by this pandemic and the response of the libraries and librarians during this period. It further elaborates on how the libraries and librarians provided services to the user community during this difficult time using different protocols, including helping them manage from home using innovative ways. The author shares some of the exciting stories from different parts of India as to how people found and implemented new innovative ways of serving the people despite all the difficult times. Infact, the Chairman, AICTE, India, in his recent address, went to the extent of saying the Library Professionals as Corona Warriors, impressed with their services during these COVID-19 Phases. Through this poster, the author wishes to showcase the response to lockdown by libraries with particular reference to India, best library practices during the pandemic, reopened libraries in the New or Next Normal, and other essential services during the pandemic by the libraries, librarians and library organizations. The poster concludes by sharing the positive sides of the pandemic, which has also helped everyone to learn and understand new ways of teaching-learning apart from a better environment and infrastructure and that we have unitedly built a better NEW NORMAL or NEXT NORMAL.
