Change and Impact of Library Instruction Classes During COVID-19 By Dr. Yumi Shin INTRODUCTION Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected academic libraries (Breeding 2020; Dixon 2020; Walsh and Rana 2020). Due to this sudden obstacle, library employees have been struggling to provide the same quality of library services prior to the pandemic. Consequently, it was necessary to change the methods of teaching library instruction classes during these unprecedented times. Online library instruction classes are essential to meet students’ and faculty’s safety and satisfy the need for a new library instruction delivery format. Although there was the need to develop online library classes for off-campus students, Lamar State College – Port Arthur (LSCPA) did not have the technology to provide these services as a primary method of instruction before the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the school to devise an appropriate system whereby students had to learn the same way as in a face-to-face environment. This research examined how the LSCPA librarian changed the library instruction classes during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these changes impacted student learning. This study’s specific objective was to evaluate how students felt about the new delivery
method of library instruction and how much they learned from online teaching.
various options to encourage student enrollments, such as late registration and late start semesters.
BACKGROUND Lamar State College – Port Arthur Lamar State College – Port Arthur (LSCPA) was established in 1909 in Port Arthur, Texas as Port Arthur Business College to educate the workers in the petrochemical industry of southeast Texas. In 1911, the college was renamed Port Arthur Collegiate Institute by the Methodist Episcopal Church, which took over the institution until 1918. The college was finally given the current name, LSCPA, in June 1999. LSCPA offers more than thirty academic and technical programs, giving students opportunities to transfer to four-year institutions or to pursue their majors in the job market upon graduation. As a member of the Texas State University System, LSCPA respects its students’ educational achievements, its employees’ contributions, and the support it receives from the community. LSCPA has continuously increased its number of students and programs it offers, which includes distance education. Due to COVID-19, enrollment decreased to 2,312 in Spring 2021, which was about 6% less than Spring 2020. Therefore, the college has offered
Gates Memorial Library: PreCOVID-19 The Gates Memorial Library at LSCPA was initially built in 1917 as the Port Arthur Public Library and was later placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The library offers various collections of full-text journal articles, books, e-books, and streaming videos. It also provides other library services, such as circulation, distance learning support, electronic devices rental, and interlibrary loan. In addition, the library offers library tours and library instruction classes based on the requests of faculty members. Due to the limited staffing, the library relies on many student assistants for its operation. Before COVID-19, the Gates Memorial Library only offered face-to-face library instruction classes with various instructors’ requests; however, most of the classes were for students who took courses on campus, and unfortunately there was no class available for distance education learners. Therefore, instructors in online courses had to bring the students to the library for the library instruction class if they thought the class was needed. Due to
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