Public libraries in foreign countries: lessons learned during pandemic

The article provides analysis of foreign countries public libraries response to COVID-19 pandemic. Best practices in key areas of their performance are determined. Main accents are placed on managing personnel, technical services staff operations, acquisitions and electronic collection development, expanding services to the greater community, collaboration with other community agencies: national, academic, special libraries, publishing houses. Public libraries activity during pandemic period helps personnel to rethink and interpret differently the value of information and communications technologies in everyday library performance. Digital inequality is considered as the main barrier for designing and updating library services for communities. COVID-19 affected the performance of public libraries in foreign countries, help to conceptualize their role and professional skills of library specialists in the context of digital transformations. The necessity for working out crisis management issues in the context of digital environment in public libraries is emphasized.