Natural Disaster Accessibility of Small and Rural Libraries in Northwest Florida

ABSTRACT

Public libraries are critical community facilities through which librarians support their communities before, during, and after natural disasters such as hurricanes. In their disaster responses, public librarians work to effectively restore library buildings, provide library materials, and, most critically, provide services that strengthen community resiliency and sense of safety. However, a neglected aspect of disaster policy and response is the lack of documentation regarding library transportation accessibility. In this study, the researchers used geographical information systems (GIS) approaches to investigate the extent to which public libraries are sited to serve vulnerable, rural populations in Northwest Florida. Results suggest that many public library branches are inopportunely sited relative to pockets of high-need populations, indicating that disaster services may need to be offered outside of the library building or transportation options be made available to residents of disaster-prone, inaccessible areas. The study’s findings have the potential to inform library and information studies education, multidisciplinary research and policy-making, and to develop a public library disaster preparedness and response.

KEYWORDS:

• Accessibility assessment
• geographic information systems
• hospitals
• libraries
• older population

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Florida Department of Transportation and CITILABS for providing data and valuable insight. The contents of this paper and discussion represent the authors’ opinion and do not reflect the official views of the Florida Department of Transportation and CITILABS.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported, in part, by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) [grant RE-96-18-0127-18].

Notes on contributors

Mahyar Ghorbanzadeh

Mahyar Ghorbanzadeh is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Florida A&M University– Florida State University College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida.

Eren Erman Ozguven

Eren Erman Ozguven is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Florida A&M University– Florida State University College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida.

Curtis S. Tenney

Curtis S. Tenney is a doctoral candidate at Florida State University College of Communication & Information in Tallahassee, Florida.

Zoë Leonarczyk

Zoë Leonarczyk is a doctoral student at Florida State University College of Communication & Information in Tallahassee, Florida.

Faye R. Jones

Faye R. Jones is a Senior Faculty Researcher at the Florida State University College of Communication & Information in Tallahassee, Florida.

Marcia A. Mardis

Marcia A. Mardis is a Professor and Associate Dean of Research at the Florida State University College of Communication & Information.