| Abstract [eng] |
The master's thesis analyzes the management of Public library services in the context of emergencies. Nowadays public libraries work in the face of crises and emergencies: pandemics, societal unrest, greater than the country has ever faced in the face of immigration and the threat of war. The Public libraries have been in a state of constant change for several decades, as the changing environment is changing the needs of the library. Libraries are public organizations and are required not only to satisfy the needs of society, but also to take responsibility for providing quality and accessible services to the public and for creating society welfare. The analysis of the scientific literature and legislation has shown that emergencies have highlighted the limitations of managing library services in such situations. Although the libraries are highly resilient to emergencies, the authors note that cooperation with governmental and non-governmental organizations, business, social networking, ensuring the availability and quality of information and dissemination remain key factors in the success of libraries. The implementation of the above factors is inseparable from the effective management of library services in emergency situations. In Lithuania, there is still very little discussion about the management of Public library services in the context of emergencies, there is a lack of a model that would define the management of public library services during emergencies. The master's thesis is to research the management of Public library services in the context of emergencies and to form a hypothetical model of public library services management in emergencies based on the research results. The research was carried out using quantitative survey and qualitative interview methods. In order to study the management of public library services in the context of emergencies, challenges, new ways of providing services, the quantitative survey of the public library staff was carried out. The surveys of public library managers and cultural emergency experts were useful to assess respondents' views on the management of Public library services during emergencies. The answers were based on the respondents' personal experience and knowledge. According to the results of the research, Public libraries today are in a way of big changes. After carrying out the survey of the Public library employees, managers and experts in Kaunas and Šiauliai districts, it became clear that the declared emergency situation changed the format of the work in Public libraries: the pandemic and its management affected the indicators of work, the format of the services provided by the library changed, the new services emerged, the demand of new competencies increased, the importance and necessity of libraries distinguished, the cooperation of libraries with other institutions increased. The master's thesis identifies the dimensions of public library services management, limited and encouraging factors, the factors of public libraries' resilience to extreme situations are distinguished, the perspective directions of activities and development opportunities in the management of public library services during emergencies are provided. The results of the research are significant in order to draw the attention of the society, government and responsible institutions to the Public libraries, as public service institutions that have to plan, constantly to evaluate their steps, to choose the changes that fully could respond the expectations of the widest possible part of society during emergencies. |
