Whatever it Takes: A Close Examination of the Roles and Services Public Libraries Provide During Community Crises

Abstract

This paper explores the roles and services public libraries provide during community crises. This is accomplished through a directed and summative content analysis of news articles concerning the services provided by public libraries during various crises. Seven roles and four adaptive capacities are closely examined, including how they have changed over time and whether or not they differ depending on the type of crisis, in order to attain a thorough understanding of the essential roles and services public libraries can offer to enhance their communities’ resilience.