Our Publications
Find abstracts and citations for select articles below.
IFLA 2023 Poster
Citation
Tu-Keefner, F., Lyons, D. R., & Hobbs, A. (2023, August 19-25). Supporting library staff in Emergencies and natural disasters [Poster presentation]. Presented at the 88th IFLA World Library and Information Congress, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
IFLA 2022 Poster
Citation
Tu-Keefner, F., Lyons, D. R., & Hobbs, A. (2022, July 26-29). Supporting library staff in Emergencies and natural disasters [Poster presentation]. Presented at the 87th IFLA World Library and Information Congress, Dublin, Ireland.
IFLA 2021 Poster
Citation
Tu-Keefner, F., Lyons, D. R., Liu, J., Hobbs, A., & Smith, J. C. (2021, August 17-19). Supporting library staff in Emergencies and natural disasters [Poster presentation]. Presented at the 2021 IFLA World Library and Information Congress.
MLA 2018 Poster
Citation
Tu-Keefner, F. Liu, J., Freeburg, D., Lyons, D. & Corbo, M. (2018, May 18-23). Disaster information needs, credible information access, and use of social media for crisis communication: A survey study of the adult general public in 11 counties during two disasters [Poster presentation]. Presented to MLA 2018: Medical Library Association Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Atlanta, GA
Authors: Denise Lyons
Citation:
Lyons, D. (2025, April 1). Lessons in resilience: Libraries’ roles in disaster preparedness and recovery | Climate crisis. Library Journal.
Abstract:
Libraries have a critical role to play in disaster preparedness and recovery; advocates are working to document those efforts.
Citation:
Tu-Keefner, F., Hobbs, A., & Lyons, D. (2025) Libraries on the front lines: The imperative for disaster-ready information professionals. Journal Library Administration, 65(1), 79-99.
https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2024.2432230
Abstract:
Libraries, particularly local public libraries, have evolved into hubs for community-first services, extending beyond traditional roles. Library personnel are now expected to act as first responders and crisis leaders during times such as natural disasters. This report documents the critical crisis leadership qualifications required for library personnel, identified through comprehensive research from 2015 to 2023. Findings from these situation-specific case studies call attention to the community’s needs for library services during emergencies, underscoring the requirement for LIS education to include disaster management. Continuing education (CE) is also critical in preparing information professionals for these essential roles.
Disaster Health Information Access and Public Libraries’ Situation-Specific Information Services: What Public Librarians and Library Users Said
Authors: Feili Tu-Keefner, Jingjing Liu, Denise Lyons, April Hobbs, J. Caroline Smith & Mike Corbo
Citation:
Tu-Keefner, F., Liu, J., Lyons, D., Hobbs, A., Smith, J. C. & Corbo, M. (2020). Health Information Access and Public Libraries’ Situation-Specific Information Services: What Public Librarians and Library Users Said. Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet, 24(3), 201-227.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15398285.2020.1791666
Abstract:
A 2017 situation-specific case study surveyed community members following the flooding in 2015 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016 in South Carolina. The study examined how community members used libraries’ critical disaster information services, focusing also on how the participants used disaster information sources and evaluated their credibility. The findings show that the community members surveyed valued highly the critical information services provided by public libraries and librarians. Even though most of the community members indicated that it was easy or very easy to find information, some of them did not use credible information resources either during or after the disaster.
Preparing Future Librarians and Current Information Professionals to Lead Libraries in Times of Crisis
Authors: Feili Tu-Keefner, Jingjing Liu, Denise Lyons, April Hobbs, and J. Caroline Smith
Citation:
Tu-Keefner, F., Liu, J., Lyons, D. R., & Hobbs, A., Smith, C. (2019, August). Preparing future librarians and current information professionals to lead libraries in times of crisis. In Proceedings of the 85th World Library and Information Congress of IFLA. Athens, Greece.
Abstract:
Libraries today are expected to be a hub of information service providers and also serve as catalysts for community engagement. LIS education programs are responsible for producing proficient future librarians who will be strong advocates of innovative services to their communities and who can rise to the occasion in providing community-first disaster and health information services. However, one of the most difficult tasks is developing LIS pedagogy that can be delivered both in traditional classrooms and online. To that end, in October 2015, faculty members and graduate students from the School of Library and Information at the University of South Carolina began collaborating with professional librarians from local libraries and the South Carolina State Library to investigate public libraries’ value to their communities in providing critical information services, as well as the libraries’ legitimacy as partners of public health agencies at a time of catastrophic flooding. In 2017, a survey study examined how community members had accessed information during the 2015 flooding and during Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Situation-specific research conducted in the third study targeted the Houston Public Library system’s main library and its branches affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Librarians’ basic required competencies have been identified. The majority of these competencies and their skill sets have been integrated into the curriculum of the SLIS/USC. A new course, tentatively titled “Community Engagement and Empowerment through Information Environments,” is under development. Continuing education programs and professional development opportunities are also being developed to better prepare professional librarians to provide disaster and health information services.
Communities and Libraries in Times of Crisis: A Journey of Knowledge Inquiries in South Carolina
Author: Feili Tu-Keefner
Citation:
Tu-Keefner, F. (2019). Communities and Libraries in Times of Crisis: A Journey of Knowledge Inquiries in South Carolina. Journal of New Librarianship, 4(Special Issue), 405-416. https://doi.org/10.21173/newlibs/7/12
Abstract:
In October 2015, several counties in South Carolina experienced catastrophic flooding that caused severe damage. Using a framework for risk communication preparedness and implementation recommended by public health experts, this study investigated public libraries and their legitimacy as partners of public health agencies during and after a disaster. The results show that the libraries in the areas affected created disaster-recovery centers, illustrating their value in facilitating emergency response and recovery. However, the findings also show librarians were not fully prepared to provide disaster and health information, especially through online venues. Information and technology literacy issues created barriers for community members in accessing disaster health information and filing FEMA applications online. It is recommended that public libraries provide user-friendly, reliable disaster and health digital resources, making them available permanently, and updating the information consistently.
Authors: Jingjing Liu, Feili Tu-Keefner, Hassan Zamir, and Samantha Hastings
Citation:
Liu, J., Tu-Keefner, F., Zamir, H., & Hastings, S. K. (2017). Social Media as a Tool Connecting with Library Users in Disasters: A Case Study of the 2015 Catastrophic Flooding in South Carolina. Science & Technology Libraries, 36(3), 274–287. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2017.1358128
Abstract:
Libraries have been playing important roles in disaster preparedness and recovery according to related literature. With the increasing popularity of social media, one specific value libraries can offer during disasters centers on serving as hubs for delivering credible information via social media. The 2015 catastrophic flooding in South Carolina provided a means of investigating the way libraries could utilize social media to maintain connections with their patrons during a disaster. Based on the findings from a situation-specific pilot survey study, recommendations are made that could help libraries proactively create risk communication strategies using social media for effective information services.
Social media as a tool connecting with library users in disasters: A case study of the 2015 catastrophic flooding in South Carolina
Health information services and technology access during and after a disaster: Lessons learned by public librarians in South Carolina
Authors: Feili Tu-Keefner, Jingjing Liu, Elizabeth Hartnett, and Samantha Hastings
Citation:
Tu-Keefner, F., Liu, J., Hartnett, E., & Hastings, S. K. (2017). Health Information Services and Technology Access during and after a Disaster: Lessons Learned by Public Librarians in South Carolina. Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet, 21(1), 26–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/15398285.2017.1279895
Abstract:
A situation-specific case study was conducted to identify health information services and technology access during and after the October 2015 catastrophic flooding in South Carolina. Using a framework for risk communication preparedness and implementation recommended by public health experts, this study investigates public libraries and their legitimacy as partners of public health agencies during and after a disaster. The methodology includes focus group meetings and a one-on-one interview. Preliminary results reveal essential health information and technology access needs. It is recommended that public libraries be proactively prepared to provide reliable disaster and health digital resources for adult users.
Authors: Samantha Hastings, Jingjing Liu, and Feili Tu-Keefner
Document Type
Conference Proceeding:
Subject Area(s):
Library and Information Science
Publication Info:
Published in SC Floods Project Summaries: Collected Abstracts Detailing Projects Funded by the Office of the Vice President for Research through the 2015 SC Floods Research Initiative—Prepared for the SC Floods Conference, October 7, 2016, ed. Office of Research, University of South Carolina, 2016, pages 56-56.
The value of public libraries during a major flooding: What the 2015 catastrophic flooding in South Carolina has taught us
Please visit the University of South Carolina’s Scholar Commons to access the publications. For some of the articles, information including abstracts and citations are below.
Note: IFLA Conference papers/posters are available as open-access resources.