Library Disaster Plan Elements
Purpose: Provide an overview of library disaster plans for
those beginning to construct one.
Contents:
–
–
–
–
Introduction
Organizing personnel
Organizing facilities
Organizing materials
preservation
– Organizing information
technology
– Organizing roles &
services
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heet.svg
Library Disaster Plan Introduction
• Library disaster plans are
also called: hurricane,
emergency, COntinuity of
OPerations (COOP)
plans.
• There is plenty of
guidance on how to do a
plan -- too much. It is
easy to be daunted and
overwhelmed.
• Advice: Do a little each
year & work with a group.
Credit: Computer.png from Wikimedia Commons,
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Computer.png
Library Disaster Plan Introduction
• Most current plans
adopt the FEMA all
hazards approach –
the plan prepares the
library for all potential
hazards not just one.
• Most plans “fail” in the
face of disaster.
Credit: scoop shovel Clip Art
http://www.pdclipart.org/displayimage.php?album=
146&pos=53
Introduction:
Why Plan If Most Plans Fail?
• To get library personnel (and
others) to think and act
together prior to a disaster.
• Build relations and
coordination with fellow key
responders like emergency
management, utilities, police,
fire, other libraries.
• A plan pre-assembles assets
for use when improvising
community (and library)
restoration and recovery
if/when the plan “fails.”
Credit: Gwt Icon http://www.clker.com/clipart-9731.html
Library Disaster Plan Elements
Introduction (Continued)
What are key library
disaster assets?
–
–
–
–
Personnel
Facilities & Equipment
Materials
Information
Technology
– Roles & Services
Credit: Hardware Symbol 2 Clip Art
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45&pos=48
Introduction
What is a Disaster Plan?
A disaster plan is the
identification,
organization, precoordination and
preparation of key
library disaster assets
for the improvisational
use during and after a
disaster.
Credit: tools icon Clip Art
http://www.pdclipart.org/displayimage.php?al
bum=145&pos=161
Disaster Plan: Organizing Personnel
• All staff should know why what
they do at the library during a
disaster matters.
• Not all staff react well to stress
and that is OK. Other work can
be found.
• Finding ways to communicate
when a storm strikes may be
difficult or impossible.
• All staff need to know staff
disaster related policies &
procedures.
• FEMA offers free online
training that may apply.
Credit: Free busywman Clipart
http://www.freeclipartnow.com/people/women/busywman.
jpg.html
Disaster Plan: Organizing Facilities
Key Tasks:
• Assess vulnerability, do
mitigation, Emergency
Management can help;
• Address insurance: How
much, how to write, how to
claim, annual inventory;
• Securing facilities;
• Assess facilities after a storm
• Reopen facilities
• Supply caches
Credit: HHS be... hurricane prepared.gif from
Wikimedia Commons
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HHS_
be..._hurricane_prepared.gif
Disaster Plan:
Organizing Materials Preservation
• Assess collection risks &
damage. See Miami-Dade;
Heritage Preservation; Clifton;
NARA; SAA;
• Assume that cost of drying or
cleaning materials is not cost
effective unless collection is
irreplaceable.
• Identify & protect vital library
(including individual) records
(& software). See Collier;
• Assemble preservation
supplies cache.
Credit: Radio clip art
http://www.clker.com/clipart-24945.html
Disaster Plan: Organizing
Information Technology
Tasks include:
• Hardening IT;
• Backing up software,
data, systems &
individuals;
• Obtaining redundant
telecommunications;
FEMA Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) workers
Colleen Higgins and Dave Houchins are completing
telecommunications setup on the FEMA DRC at the Leon County (FL)
Public Library. Credit: FEMA photo library,
http://www.photolibrary.fema.gov/photolibrary/photo_details.do?id=38
048
Disaster Plan:
Organizing Roles & Services
• What public library
community hurricane
service roles will the
library adopt? Why?
• What policies &
procedures are needed?
• What supplies should be
cached?
• What advertising is
needed?
Lehigh Acres, FL Credit: From FEMA photo library
http://www.photolibrary.fema.gov/photolibrary/photo_details.do?i
d=38306
Parting Shots
• Rome wasn’t built in a day neither should
your plan – start small and add each year.
• Involve all your staff – explain why they
matter.
• Assemble assets to be called on when
plans fail and improvisation begins.
• Work with your partner responders.