Disaster Preparedness Clearinghouse

This site is a selective resource, developed by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association, for libraries of all sizes and types. It contains resources, links to the disaster preparedness sites of agencies whose primary role is emergency response or conservation, and information on available training. Please send comments or suggestions for other resources to include to alcts@ala.org.

Disaster Preparedness Sites

Baltimore Academic Library Consortium, (BALC). Includes information on disaster recovery of library materials and a list of supplies, experts and services to assist during a disaster. The web site provides a searchaboe database of these resources and a page to add a resource. While the majority of the resources are from the Washington/Baltimore area, contributions from any area is welcome.
http://disaster.lib.msu.edu/disaster/

Colorado Preservation Alliance. The Colorado Preservation Aliance, which is composed of librarians, records managers, archivists, and genealogists, has developed this site to give people rapid advice on various disasters. Besides the state-wide action plan, there are full text publications on various preservation techniques ans resource lists.
http://www.aclin.org/~cpa

Cultural Preservation & Restoration, Inc., (CPR). Offers a wide range of conservation and museum services. Best known for specializing in archaeological conservation, they also specialize in conservation of objects, sculptures, painting, ethnographic materials, textiles, metals, stone, glass, and wood.
http://cpr.home.att.net/

CoOL - Conservation OnLine: Resources for Conservation Professionals. Probably the resource for conservation and preservation information. Links to many other agencies, as well as a directory for locating people involved with conservation or allied professions.
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/

Extension Disaster Education Network (a collaborative multi-state effort by Extension Services across the country). A site designed to provide access to resources on disaster preparedness, recovery, and mitigation.
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~eden/

Federal Emergency Management Agency. Preparedness, Training & Exercises. Detailed information on proper response to natural and technological disasters, including tips for individuals and families.
http://www.fema.gov/pte/prep.htm

Iowa Conservation and Preservation Consortium Flood Recovery Booklet, a compilation of resources useful for individual or institution.
http://www.neirls.org/flood_recovery/flood_cover.html

National Task Force on Emergency Response. The National Task Force on Emergency Response is a partnership of 29 federal agencies, national service organizations (including the American Library Association), and private institutions. It has two major goals: 1) safeguarding America's cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies and 2) using its expertise to help the general public recover from disasters.
http://www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/taskfer.htm

Northeast Document Conservation Center. Disaster Assistance. Description of NEDCC's emergency assistance program for institutions and individuals with damaged paper-based collections.
http://www.nedcc.org/disaster.htm

SOLINET Preservation Field Service Program. Disaster Services. A description of the emergency disaster assistance to individuals and institutions.
http://www.solinet.net/presvtn/disaster/disastsv.htm

University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, Disaster Resources Preparedness & Recovery. Provides specific information on preparation before a disaster, response to a disaster, and information on providing assistance to disaster victims.
http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~disaster/prepare.html

Training

Federal Emergency Management Agency. Preparedness.
http://www.fema.gov/emi/training.htm

SOLINET Preservation Workshops.
http://www.solinet.net/presvtn/events/event.htm

Resources

Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel. Developed by the National Task Force on Emergency Response, this is a tool every library should have handy. Order information is at http://www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/tfwheel.htm (along with an interactive web version).

Bibliography of Standards and Selected References Related to Preservation in Libraries, compiled by Suzanne Dodson and Johanna Wellheiser (February 1996, revised April 1996), section 9, Emergency Planning and Response. This listing (http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/resource/presv/ebibl9a.htm) includes both standards and references to reports of disaster response and handbooks.

Reading List for Preservation Management, a course presented by Sheila S. Intner at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College.

Brooks, Constance. Disaster Preparedness. Washington, DC: ARL, 1993.

Drewes, Jeanne M. & Julie A. Page. Promoting Preservation Awareness in Libraries: A Sourcebook. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1997.

Fortson, Judith. Disaster Planning & Recovery. New York: Neal-Schuman, 1992.

Kahn, Miriam. Disaster Response and Planning for Libraries. Chicago: ALA, 1998.

Kahn, Miriam. "Mastering Disaster: Emergency Planning for Libraries." Library Journal 118 (Dec. 1993), p. 73-75.

Murray, Toby. Bibliography on Disasters, Disater Preparedness and Disaster Recovery. Tulsa, OK: University of Tulsa, 1987.

Rhodes, Barbara J. Hell & Highwater: A Disaster Information Sourcebook. New York: METRO, 1989.

Trinkley, Michael. Hurricane! Surviving the Big One: A Primer for Libraries, Museums and Archives. Atlanta, GA: SOLINET, 1993.

Water, Peter. Procedures for the Salvage of Water-Damaged Materials. 2nd ed. Washington: USGPO, 1988.