This practical handbook revises and updates the earlier An Ounce of Prevention: A Handbook on Disaster Contingency Planning for Archives, Libraries and Record Centres, by Barton and Johanna Wellheiser (Toronto Area Archivists Group Education Foundation, 1985). The aim of the publication is “to provide planners with a pragmatic, broad‐based approach to what we [the authors] call ‘integrated disaster planning’.” This approach emphasizes an ongoing integration process that links prevention, protection, preparedness, response, recover, rehabilitation and post‐disaster assessment. It is organized to reflect the sequence of the phases in disaster planning. While the focus is on collections and records, human safety in case of disaster is stressed explicitly and implicitly throughout the book. The authors also consider facilities and computer data and systems. The authors stress the involvement of every department in an organization in the planning and the need to have a carefully mapped strategy for responding to an emergency.
The authors are well qualified to address the topics covered in this book. Johanna Wellheiser is the manager of the Prevention and Digitization Services Department at Toronto Public Library and co‐authored the first edition of An Ounce of Prevention. Jude Scott is a writer and researcher specializing in projects for the Canadian heritage and cultural sectors. She is the author and editor of the Museum and Archival Supplies Handbook.
The chapters are: Disaster planning, The disaster plan, Disaster prevention planning, Disaster protection planning, Disaster preparedness planning, Disaster response planning, Disaster recovery planning for collections and records, Disaster rehabilitation planning for collections and records, Disaster recovery and rehabilitation planning for facilities and systems, and Post‐disaster planning. Each chapter is logically organized, beginning with a detailed outline of its contents. A comprehensive list of possible disasters (blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fire, explosions, civil disturbances, terrorism and military conflict, and power failures) is addressed. The chapter on recovery planning provides guidelines by type of material – from paper books, periodicals and pamphlets to vellum to works of art on paper to computer media.
An appendix on resources covers sources of information and of assistance, sources of facilities and services, and of supplies and equipment. Sources of information identifies global resources; most of the other lists provide resources, services and suppliers located in Canada. This is certainly logical and appropriate, given the affiliation of this publication with the Canadian Archives Foundation. The authors provides an extensive list of references, including general works, sample plans, and case studies along with the references cited in each chapter. The book concludes with a well‐prepared index.
This is, indeed, a comprehensive guide and well worth the $30.00 purchase price. It is recommended for all sizes and types of archives, libraries and record centers.
