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The paper explores activities of public libraries under changed conditions caused by the official announcement of the infectious disease COVID-19 pandemic, paying special attention to the work of the Public Library Bor during the lockdown and afterwards. Public libraries worldwide had to find a way to continue their work and to overcome fears, confronting contradictory information, as well as to make, often alone, hard decisions of what services to offer and how to deliver materials to users. Libraries were deciding on options ranging from minimal restrictions to the total lockdown. On the other hand, library users had to turn to online sources of information and services in order to satisfy their needs and interests, so that the paper also explores the effects of these new working conditions on the usage of digitized materials and virtual library services. The conclusion is that libraries should carefully evaluate their possibilities and resources, adjusting their services and programs to what people need the most. As the course of the pandemic is constantly changing, libraries need to focus on improving their virtual offers and finding the way to do so with minimum and tolerable expenses, having in mind that many public libraries in Serbia have already faced budget reductions and cuttings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the outbreak of the infectious disease covid 19, caused by the corona virus, Novi Sad City Library adjusted its work to the epidemiological situation and adopted a Plan for the Implementation of Measures for the Protection of Employees in Novi Sad City Library During the State of Emergency. In the first year of implementation of the Library’s Strategic Plan 2020–2024, the initial research of the audience is planned, as well as the fulfillment of the strategic goals of introducing innovations and developing the audience. Accordingly, in August-September 2020, a users survey was conducted, in order to gain insight into attitudes towards the way the Library operates and how to improve the user experience. In addition to accepting the measures taken within the book-loan service and suggestions for its improvement, the focus of the research was the attitude towards online library services and user predictions of the future for the library as an institution. The attitudes of the users in city departments and branches were compared with the views of the users in suburban branches and those who filled in the survey in electronic form. A wide range of online services began to develop even before the pandemic, as strategically predicted, and the expansion of the contagion has further accelerated efforts in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents how the activities of the Library were reorganized, in the changed conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges that librarians have been faced with, in the context of communication based mainly on the application of digital technologies, are also presented. The specifics of the users’ perception of the changed book lending regime are pointed out. The paper gives the models of using digital platforms in designing the promotional, program, and workshop activities of the Library, due to restrictions of gatherings on the premises. The intention is to locate weak points, manifested in specific circumstances, in order to apply the acquired experience in revising goals and planning future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores activities of public libraries under changed conditions caused by the official announcement of the infectious disease COVID-19 pandemic, paying special attention to the work of the Public Library Bor during the lockdown and afterwards. Public libraries worldwide had to find a way to continue their work and to overcome fears, confronting contradictory information, as well as to make, often alone, hard decisions of what services to offer and how to deliver materials to users. Libraries were deciding on options ranging from minimal restrictions to the total lockdown. On the other hand, library users had to turn to online sources of information and services in order to satisfy their needs and interests, so that the paper also explores the effects of these new working conditions on the usage of digitized materials and virtual library services. The conclusion is that libraries should carefully evaluate their possibilities and resources, adjusting their services and programs to what people need the most. As the course of the pandemic is constantly changing, libraries need to focus on improving their virtual offers and finding the way to do so with minimum and tolerable expenses, having in mind that many public libraries in Serbia have already faced budget reductions and cuttings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]