Reflections: Middle management during the pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has uprooted all of our lives in varied and numerous ways. In academic libraries, we are living in ambiguity and uncertainty, while trying to plan for what seems like an ever changing “pivot” as our institutions’ plans fluctuate by the day. Library staff at all levels must engage in continuous scenario planning, both in their jobs and in their personal lives. We wonder, when will our campuses reopen, or if they are open, we wonder if they will shut back down. We try to weigh the importance of our services with the risks to our staff and our patrons.