I was the Director of a public library system in Western Colorado for nine 
years.  One of the most important projects I completed was a disaster 
preparedness plan for the system.  We experienced several major fires (Storm 
King most famous) during this time period, many Interstate closures, 
blizzards, mudflow incidents, all impacting our libraries and patrons. 
Having policies and procedures in place make these times much less 
stressful.  It also brings facility issues to light so that preventive 
maintenance can be done.
The inspiration for all this work on "disaster" came from my participation 
in the preservation management program at Rutgers University (class of 
2003).  I highly recommend it for public librarians.
Jaci Spuhler
now Local History Librarian, Eagle Public Library, Eagle Valley Library 
District, Colorado

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patrick ngulube" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:42 AM
Subject: Disaster preparedness in public libraries


> Dear Colleagues
> A couple of weeks ago I gave a talk to public librarians and I
> underscored the need for them to be prepared for disasters. One senior
> librarian was very critical of my presentation as he felt that disaster
> preparedness was not a major concern for public librarianship. I
> disagreed with him. I would like to know the views of the members of the
> Listserv concerning this issue.
> Thank you in anticipation.
> Patrick
>
> Professor Patrick Ngulube
> University of KwaZulu-Natal (PMB)
> Faculty of Humanities, Development and Social Sciences
> School of Sociology and Social Studies
> Information Studies Programme
> Private Bag X01
> Scottsville, 3209
> Pietermaritzburg
> South Africa
> Tel: +27 (0)33 260 5972
> Cell: +27 828527612
> Fax: +27 (0)33 260 5092
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.hs.unp.ac.za/infs/bio3.htm
> "The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your
> riches, but to reveal to him his own."  Benjamin Disraeli
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> <<<<gwavasig>>>>
>
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A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org.
For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask]

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>