DEFINITION OF DISASTER

1
DEFINITION OF DISASTER

• A sudden, unforeseen calamitous event that
  brings about great damage or loss to property
  people and whose effect will cause an
  interruption of normal library operations.

2
WHY ASSESS RISK?

• To Determine Vulnerability Impact
• To Maximize Limited Time Resources
• To Make Decisions Based on Cost vs. Benefit

3
CONDUCT A SITE SURVEY

• Building Contents
• Landscape Setting
• Collection Valuation
• Key Historic Features

4
POTENTIAL HAZARDS OR THREATS

• Natural Disasters
• Off-Site Threats
• Human Causes
• Technological Causes

5
NATURAL DISASTERS

• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Wind Storms
• Winter Storms
• Summer Storms
• Brush Fires

6
OFF-SITE THREATS

• Electric Power Failures
• Loss of Water Supply
• Sewer Back-up
• Transportation Accidents
• Aircraft
• Nuclear Accidents
• Industrial Explosions Fire

7
HUMAN CAUSES

• Fire Arson
• Vandalism
• Bomb Threats
• Theft
• Damage to Loaned Item(s)
• Broken Pipes
• Structural Collapse

8
TECHNOLOGICAL CAUSES

• Loss of Tele/Data Communications
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Software
• Network
• Electrical Infrastructure

9
IDENTIFY WHAT IF?

• Fire
• Medical Emergency
• Water
• Other

10
IDENTIFY KEY PLAYERS

• Who has authority to make decisions?
• Who knows the building grounds the best
• Who can provide you and your staff with
  assistance and training in identified risk areas?
• Who is most knowledgeable about collections care?
• Do you need legal or insurance advice?

11
PRIORITIZE YOUR COLLECTION

• Whats most important to save?
• Whats replaceable
• Is it cheaper to salvage or replace?

12
COLLECTION SALVAGE PRIORITIESThese collections
should have top priority in salvage operations in
the event of a disaster. This may include
collection files, indexes and catalogs, in hard
copy or computer format. (This list will be kept
on file with the Fire Department.)Numbering
system indicates priority order.

13
AUTHORITY AND DELEGATION

• In an emergency the Board of Trustees of
  authorizes implementation of the plan and to
  take charge If not available then next person
  available on the following list is in charge
• Name Phone Number
• 1.
• 2.

14
You can not experience a good recovery process

• If you have not
• Prepared ahead of time
• Involved key people
• Trained staff
• Developed good communication and cooperation

15
DISASTER SUPPLIES Packing supplies

• Cardboard boxes (if you are going to freeze or
  freeze dry books immediately cardboard absorbs
  moisture) Plastic crates (if there will be any
  delay in freezing) Pencils or indelible pens or
  markers for marking boxes Freezer or wax paper
  

16
Air-drying supplies

• Paper towels or unprinted newspaper or blotting
  paper, for interleaving Bone folders and
  microspatulas for separating wet pages Fishline
  or clothesline for hanging books or documents
  Electric fans Dehumidifiers Heavy duty
  electric cords

17
Cleaning supplies

• Paper toweling Sponges, mops and pails
  Rubber gloves Respirator or mask Goggles
  New plastic garbage cans (or plastic trays or
  dishpans) filled with clean cold water for
  rinsing mud covered materials Protective
  clothing Lysol cleaner or spray, for cleaning
  and spraying dirty or moldy storage areas

18
Miscellaneous needs

• Flashlights Carts for transporting loaded
  boxes Cleared area and tables in which to sort,
  clean and pack materials

19
SOURCES

• http//www.lib.uiowa.edu/preservation/pages/Disas
  terResources.htm
• Local hardware or lumber storesLocal newspaper
  officesLocal drug stores

20

• http//www.neirls.org/flood_recovery/flood_cover.h
  tml
• http//web.grinnell.edu/individuals/stuhrr/icpc/ic
  pc.html

21
Disaster PlansOn the Web

• http//palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/disasters/p
  lans/

• Minnesota Historical Society Disaster
  Preparedness Plan (Excerpts)
• item type specific instructions for drying
  materials
• Syracuse University Libraries
• has illustrations on how to pack and dry books
• Disaster plan for print materials
• Disaster plan for Non-print and Photographic
  materials
• Disaster plan for Audio materials
• Library Emergency Supplies
• Western New York Disaster Preparedness and
  Recovery Manual for Libraries and Archives
  (Western New York Library Resources Council has
  worksheets

22
CALL

• IVAN HANTHORN
• Day (M-F) 515/294-8858
• Other times 515/292-9055
• NANCY E KRAFT
• Day (M-F) 319/335-5286 or 319/360-5387
• Other times 319/395-7418 or 319/360-5387