Dealing with Natural Disasters In Libraries

The book Dealing with Natural Disasters in Libraries simultaneously published as Public Library Quarterly, Volume 25, No. 3/4, provides an insightful and interesting read for any library professional interested in protecting their collection from a disaster. Consisting of a series of articles and case studies from librarians who have experienced the devastation a disaster can reek on a library, it provides guidance and a common sense approach to library disasters. Each case study outlines the flaws and potential hazards that can befall the unwary. The use of photographs in some articles illustrates the devastation that a library can be faced with, but the inclusion of after recovery shots highlights beneficial returning items and service to patrons can be. Not only does the book deal with large size libraries but also offers hope to smaller libraries that are frequently overlooked by those offering generic plans. Common themes run throughout the articles and case studies. These are the need for a good plan that takes into account intrinsically valuable rather than just the monetarily valuable parts of the collection. The emphasis on people, not only who will be involved, but how people react which may not always the way they are expected to, and the need to keep people involved and informed especially your users. Time is another factor that appears to have some common thread, it can take longer to get going or even finalise the recovery process, and examples of where it has taken years to complete recovery are mentioned. Mold is another theme that many articles/case studies mentioned. No matter what type of disaster there always appears to be water involved either directly from flood or pipes or indirectly through humidity. For all those libraries that do not have a plan, the first article is for you. It is an extensive and well researched bibliography that also offers web addresses of where you can get more assistance which while North American in focus provides excellent starting points for any library anywhere in the world.