Faye F. Labiano
Philippines
(labianofaye@gmail.com)
Aiza M. V. Palaya
UP College of Mass Communication, Philippines
(avpalaya@up.edu.ph)
Background. The education sector experienced unparalleled disruptions on a global scale as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. In the Philippines, schools and universities closed in March 2020, leading to a sudden shift to virtual learning, employee displacement, and mass layoffs. Library workers were not spared. Compared to most foreign literature discussing the impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of library workers, the topic is unexplored in the Philippines.
Objectives. This paper explored the experiences of displaced library workers in the Philippines using the CHIME framework to gain insights into how the pandemic affected their relationships with family and colleagues, their hope and optimism for the future, their perception of themselves, the meaning of library work to them, and their sense of workplace empowerment.
Methods. This paper adopted a qualitative approach. Snowball sampling was used to identify potential respondents. The researchers conducted a semi-structured interview via Zoom.
Results. It was evident from the interviews that the pandemic affected the psychosocial well-being of the respondents. Faith and family relationships played vital roles in helping the respondents navigate and survive the pandemic’s challenges. Workplace injustices and institutional failures such as decreased pay, abandonment, a lack of empathy and micromanagement were the factors that affected how the respondents saw their future, the purpose of library work, and their sense of control over their personal and professional lives.
Contributions. The results of this study provided baseline data on the effects of the pandemic on the psychosocial aspects of library workers in the Philippines. It also added to the limited local literature on the topic.
Cite: Labiano, F. F., & Palaya, A. M. F. (2025). Understanding the Lived Experiences of Displaced Library Workers During the Pandemic Using the Chime Framework. LIBRES, 35(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.32655/LIBRES.2025.1.1