A paper by AKU’s librarians in Pakistan and East Africa on the role of information professionals during the pandemic has been recognised by the American Library Association, ALA, the world’s oldest and largest library
association, as one of the leading contributions to the profession.
In the piece, the authors note that there are three dimensions to a librarian’s role during a pandemic: to support public health awareness; to support research teams, researchers and faculty by providing information regarding latest developments and to meet the core needs of library users.
They note that while it has never been easier to access information online, librarians can play a vital role by enhancing access to valid information and by guiding people on how to reduce the risk of misinformation while searching on social media.
As pointed out by Mr Ali and Mr Gatiti, a need for information exists in every crisis. “Libraries, as a social institution, are responsible for ensuring public health awareness and the provision of up-to-date information to clinicians and managers.”
The article has been cited over 130 times in peer-reviewed journals and has been profiled by the World Health Organization. It has also been included in research projects and syllabi at institutions such as Duke University and Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing.
The University runs a global network of libraries across its campuses in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Its collections include books, manuscripts, current journals, back files of journals, educational reports, audio/visual aids and digital media.