34 Association of Research Libraries Research Library Issues 300 2020 and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as the three jurisdictions share many similarities and operate under US federal rules. For these entities, COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of a trustworthy network of peers. The Library of Congress has weekly calls with colleagues in the US and around the globe to share knowledge. For example, talking with experts in Australia and New Zealand led to a better understanding of the effects of weather on COVID-19. COVID-19 has highlighted the urgency and the very human impact of shared knowledge among a broad set of stakeholders—whether that knowledge is related to safe practices for reopening buildings and providing access to physical materials, or ensuring trustworthy information is available when it is so crucial that myths be dispelled by facts. Academic and public GLAM organizations are in the process of planning for and even reopening portions of their buildings and services. One of the primary concerns for staff and users is the safe handling of physical materials. Over the next few months the REALM collaboration will provide scientific data to inform decisions about high-circulating items, and special museum and research library collections. The project provides for a shared understanding of the science, as well as collective knowledge in how to handle the materials in operational workflows. Imagine how even one user community—such as those who count on the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled that circulates 20 million items a year from the Library of Congress collections alone— depends on a safe means for reading pleasure as well as learning and research. Now multiply this by the hundreds of thousands of GLAM organizations serving people around the world. At a time when people need more reliable and trustworthy information, research libraries and museums such as the University of Delaware have quickly pivoted with their partners to provide their shared community with virtual services, such as serving the small business community as they seek to understand how best to address the economic challenges they are facing or providing access for students and scholars through digital collections. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to
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