Editorial

摘要

During the preparation of our two previous special issues related to digital libraries and COVID-19 and especially after their publication, at least five lingering questions remain: Did they miss us? Are we still relevant? What will happen when we reopen our libraries? Will we have the same resources as before the pandemic? How can we address these issues through digital libraries and services? This has been a growing concern from colleagues with whom we have shared both informal conversations and spotlights at the various webinars in which we participate, either as speakers and as part of the audience. By the way, if we may count something as a positive consequence of this horrible pandemic, it seems that online activities, collaborations and conferences, which in the past were underestimated, have finally gained a larger value, because we did not have any other choice so far. Hence, currently there are no significant taboos associated with inviting a colleague to deliver an online class to our students, we are increasingly seeing the value of webinars, and we might even be collaborating with colleagues from other countries with more frequency and dedication than with those that were located in the same building at the university campus. Obviously, librarians have not been strangers to these new dynamics, as this context has also motivated colleagues to enhance the provision of digital services to continue engaging their users, to provide training and collaborate with each other, and they have used online communication tools to foster community development.