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 . 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 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 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