One important lesson that we’ve learned is that “Zoom fatigue” affects students deeply, so for library events we start with a baseline of “Zero Engagement”–a phrase borrowed from Christine Glon, Associate Law Librarian for Research Services–and go from there. This means that we place an emphasis on quick sessions, low patron commitment, and the opportunity for users to disengage. When anonymity in virtual spaces is hard to come by, libraries can offer low-engagement spaces where patrons can work with few expectations for reciprocation, while still having access to library staff who can answer questions or provide search tips. In this way, the space can function like a virtual reference desk without the added pressure of scheduling a meeting in advance.
Flex flexibility
This leads to the second lesson we’ve learned: embracing ambiguity. We’ve all experienced the topsy-turvy-ness of the pandemic response and, at the library, we’ve come to value flexibility in our virtual spaces. Despite our best efforts, speakers will still get locked out of Facebook Live events, guest speakers on Zoom will inevitably forget to unmute, or video will lag. Even more importantly, some elements that were once standard in a physical space are simply unproducible in a virtual space.
Formerly, physical volumes from the reference collection were carted to and from workshops or instruction sessions. Teaching learners how to use physical dictionaries and encyclopedias was as important as teaching them how to navigate the digital catalog. The reference collection hasn’t moved in over a year now, and we quickly learned that the online formats required a different type of navigation and reasoning. Flexibility in plans and pedagogy helped us succeed in each new challenge.
Define success
Finally, transitioning to virtual spaces means redefining success. In the past, library staff and administration measured success by the number of guests at an event, how often certain collections circulated, and how many reference interactions we held at the desk. Now, success might look like turning a live Zoom event into evergreen content for our YouTube page, learning a new virtual tool, embedding content into course LMS sites, requests for follow up meetings, or invitations to return to a class or course session. Over the last year we’ve learned that as our platforms shift, our goals must shift as well.
While creating these virtual spaces can be a challenge, it’s a challenge that academic libraries are well-positioned to face. Decades of transitioning from print resources to electronic ones, and building both in-person and virtual services, have prepared library staff to explore and shape new roles, keeping the “heart of the college” beating for its students, faculty, and campus communities.
Brady Beard is the Reference and Instruction Librarian for the Pitts Theology Library at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Christine Wolff-Eisenberg is Manager of Surveys and Research for Ithaka S+R, part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways.
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