The Efforts of University Libraries in Mitigating the Impact of Crises and Facilitating Open Access to Information: The Central Library of Amar Telidji University–Laghouat as a Case Study

Abstract

This study examines the role of Algerian university libraries in promoting and supporting open access to information during crises. It also assesses the extent to which librarians at the Central Library of Amar Telidji University–Laghouat are oriented towards this emerging mode of information provision. Furthermore, the study investigates the role of open access to information in mitigating the effects of crises on university libraries by examining the services provided to meet users’ information needs. To achieve the study objectives, a descriptive approach was adopted, and a printed questionnaire was used to collect and analyse the data. The study yielded several findings, the most significant of which indicate that the staff of the Central Library of Amar Telidji University–Laghouat are familiar with the concept of open access to information and are willing to keep pace with technological developments in library services. The library also encourages users to benefit from the university’s digital repositories and seeks to raise awareness of this new mode of access. However, the findings reveal the absence of a clear strategy for managing crises and strengthening open access to information, along with insufficient financial resources to develop the library’s technological infrastructure.