Investigating Options for Increased Awareness and Use of Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources Among Libraries and Librarians (Part One of a Two-Part Series)

ABSTRACT

Libraries of all types regularly support their communities through emergencies ranging from the opioid crisis to hurricanes. We train staff to provide NARCAN and respond to workplace or community violence. We shelter patrons before and after natural disasters–and recover and rebuild our library buildings and materials. Ideally, library staffs plan ahead to ensure their efforts are as effective as possible. The National Library of Medicine’s Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) has compiled multiple resources and tools that can enhance libraries’ plans. The project described in this and a forthcoming article explored options to improve awareness and use of these and local resources. The assessment process, the findings and tools, and the recommendations can inform all library emergency preparedness plans and enhance their resilience.

KEYWORDS:

• Awareness
• community
• community-institutional relations
• disasters
• disaster planning
• emergency preparedness
• information management
• libraries
• National Library of Medicine (US)
• risk assessment
• workplace violence
• United States

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Siobhan Champ-Blackwell of the National Library of Medicine, Michelle Eberle of the Massachusetts Library System, Gregor Trinkaus-Randall of COSTEP Massachusetts, Michele Stricker of the State Library of New Jersey, Helene Williams and Hans J. Scholl of the University of Washington Information School, and all the librarians in Massachusetts who participated in and supported this project.