Libraries Thriving Through Covid-19 and Beyond The John Bulow Campbell Library has become more than a resource for students and alumni By D R. KELLY D. CAMPBELL Associate Dean for Information Services; Director of John Bulow Campbell Library
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his spring, as the world began to grapple with the global COVID-19 pandemic, theological institutions and, by extension, theological librarians and libraries started to make a paradigm shift in their delivery systems. While some institutions were surprised by the changes needed and not well-prepared to make such a dramatic shift, theological libraries and librarians were, dare I say it, excited for
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the opportunity to demonstrate their value and skills. Historically, theological librarians and libraries have been mainly considered (and in some cases still are) support for the institution or financially necessary to fill a service within the institutional structure; however, theological librarians have viewed their professional calling and responsibility quite differently for some time. The global COVID-19 pandemic allowed theological librarians and libraries to advocate for change in many theological institutions’ perceptions and perceived value of theological libraries and librarians. In this time of unknowns, theological libraries and theological librarians have risen to the challenge of pivoting to online teaching. The library became a focal point, not just as an educational resource but also as an institutional/infrastructural resource and partner. Theological faculty and students suddenly discovered electronic library collections that had been developed but then underutilized. Ebooks for course VA N T A G E
