Volume 7, Issue 1, January – 2022 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology ISSN No:-2456-2165 IJISRT22JAN419 www.ijisrt.com 821 Covid- 19 Pandemic and The Role of Kenyan University Libraries in Online Education Hellen Jepkemoi Magut Library Department University of Eastern Africa Baraton P.O Box 2500, Eldoret, Kenya Sally Kiplagat Library Department Egerton University P.O Box 536, Egerton, Kenya Abstract:- The Government of Kenya gave a directive for closure of all learning institutions in Kenya when the first case of Covid-19 was reported in March 2020. The education sector suffered a great deal as no institution was prepared for the closure. Teaching and learning were disrupted and all students were forced to go home. With the desire of continue with learning, a good number of institutions of higher learning decided to conduct learning online. Nearly all services were provided online including library services. Librarians were forced to use various online platforms to provide library services to patrons. This research sought to determine the roles played by academic libraries in support of online university education during Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya. This study employed cross sectional survey research design. The target population of the study comprised of ten (10), purposefully selected heads of academic libraries in Kenya. A censuses method was conducted whereby all (10) heads of academic libraries in Kenya participated in the study. Online Questionnaires were launched via google forms and emailed to respondents. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics. Pearson correlation coefficient and simple linear regression analysis was conducted at significant level of α = 0.05. Data analysis was done with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The study revealed a strong statistically significant positive relationship (r = 0.899, p < 0.05) between roles played by academic libraries and online university education during Covid-19 pandemic. The results of linear regression further established that roles played by academic libraries were robust significant (β = 0.673, p < 0.05) determinants of online university education during Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya. The study recommends that further research to be done on comparative effect of roles played by academic libraries in support of online university education in private and public universities during Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya. Keywords:- Covid-19 pandemic, Online university education, Online libraries, Academic libraries I. INTRODUCTION Emergence of Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya in 2020 led to the closure of all academic institutions in Kenya. The abrupt closure got nearly all institutions unaware and physical learning was disrupted. In order to continue with learning, a good number of universities resulted in online learning through various technological platforms. The use of various technologies and its associated changes in the academic field has necessitated libraries to transform the way they provide their services. Presently the traditional concept of a library is being redefined from a place to access books to one which houses the most advanced media including CD-ROM, Internet, and remote access to a wide range of resources. Libraries have now metamorphosed into digital institutions. Gone are the days when a library was judged by its quantitative resources. Today, libraries are surrounded by networked data that is connected to the vast ocean of Internet- based services [1] The need to provide online services because of Covid- 19 pandemic has led to a paradigm shift even within our academic libraries. At the center of quality teaching, learning and research is a library be it traditional or digital. Emergence of online education necessitated the existence of online libraries. “Online education is electronically supported learning that relies on the Internet for teacher/student interaction and the distribution of class materials.” (enclopedia.com). According to [2] digital academic libraries support remote users and to enhance online education, library resources and services are critical. A library is fundamentally an organized set of resources, which include information professionals and material resources in various media such as print, non-print, video and audio. Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many challenges in our academic libraries. This is because libraries were not prepared to fully provide online services, insufficient technological infrastructure and inability for students to access the library online due to internet connection problems. Even with these challenges, libraries tried to provide online services such as reference services, online eBooks and articles through remote access systems, and online information literacy programs.