COVID-19 and Health Sciences Libraries of public hospitals in Spain

The COVID-19 Pandemic has ostensibly affected the workability of libraries in all sectors, including health service libraries. The aim of this study is to analize the impact of this situation with a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in specialized libraries of health sciences within public hospitals in Spain. Methodology: This study was carried out via an email questionnaire from june to november of 2020, comprising 35 items and it gathered data in reference to personnel, services and collections before and during phase 0 of the alarm state. Results: 137 libraries were identified and 100 were analyzed. During the phase 0 of the alarm state 72% remained closed and 76% of the staff combined working in person with working from home. The greatest demand was for research papers/documentation and bibliography searches, no change was experienced with regard to collections. More than half who have participated in collaborative work groups value it as very useful. According to the authors, while this situation has revealed that the librarians have had a great capacity to readapt, they conclude that it has also directly affected libraries with their temporary reconversion or in some cases their total closure.