Emergency Preparedness for Libraries

Despite the volumes of information they contain, few libraries, whose population at any given moment is as unpredictable as the weather, know how to prepare for, endure, and survive a disaster, whether natural or man-made, and even fewer put their know-how to paper. Emergency Preparedness for Libraries provides library management with a comprehensive guide to planning and executing emergency procedures.Based, in part, on an emergency preparedness seminar the author has presented for the American Library Association, Emergency Preparedness for Libraries provides library personnel with detailed instructions for protecting staff, patrons, and the facilities themselves, includingSteps to take now, before disaster strikesPeople and procedures to include in an emergency/disaster action planPractical ways to turn written plans into an instinctual team responseSafety considerations to take into account when caring for people on-site during an emergencyInformation to provide to the umbrella organization and the media after a disasterKey things to do the first few days after an eventTips for getting back to businessIn addition, the author examines possible scenarios and provides step-by-step solutions for all types of libraries-academic, school, public, and special-and all types of disruptions, including floods, fires, civil disturbances, and theft.