Managing Crises in the Academic Library: Past, Present, and Future

When a crisis occurs, it is the employees who determine an organization’s resiliency and effectiveness. It is their response, ability to plan for contingencies, and capacity for creating solutions that means the difference between organizational success and failure.

In 29 chapters from authors in all institution types and sizes, Managing Crises in the Academic Library can help library workers learn from the crises of the past and prepare for the next unexpected event. Chapters cover lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, perpetual budget uncertainty, dealing with downsizing, merging departments, mold mitigation, and mental health issues, but also offer strategies applicable during any crisis, including:

• Responsive decision-making in academic library collections
• Managing stakeholder expectations
• Effective communication strategies
• Continuity of operations planning
• Utilizing library storage facilities
• Documentation and cross-training
• Mediating student technology needs
• Setting boundaries 

Chapters include workflow charts, bibliographies, and concrete strategies that can be easily adopted into your crisis planning.  Libraries and library workers are deeply sustaining lifelines for many students and faculty. Managing Crises in the Academic Library collects stories that demonstrate the tenacity, creativity, and ingenuity of academic library workers as they maintain this vital community lifeline and offers actionable ideas and approaches for planning for and sustaining the resources, services, and people in the library during difficult times.

Imprint: ACRL

Published: 2023

Pages: 402