ALA Disaster Relief Fund
The American Library Association extends our deepest sympathies to those who continue to be affected and to those who have already lost everything. We know of one library that went up in flames: the Palisades Public Library. Libraries are vital lifelines in times of crisis, providing refuge, resources, and essential services. Please consider donating to the ALA Disaster Relief Fund to help restore library services and support the communities they serve.
Libraries have long been cornerstones of communities throughout Los Angeles County. During this difficult time libraries are serving as temporary shelters, answering residents' questions, and assisting with disaster relief applications.
Local Funds Responding to the Southern California Wildfires
The Library Foundation of Los Angeles has launched two funds to direct funding to impacted staff and the Palisades Branch.
- Los Angeles Public Library Staff Emergency Support Fund
- Los Angeles Public Library Palisades Branch Recovery Fund
- Altadena Libraries and LA County Library: Connected Wellness - Critical Programs Support
Please don’t hesitate to contact the American Library Association Chapter Relations Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext 3200 or 2429 if you think ALA can help with recovery of libraries damaged in natural disasters. To help international libraries, please contact the American Library Association International Relations Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3200 or 3201. Or contact Michael Dowling at mdowling@ala.org, or Delin Guerra at dguerra@ala.org.
This page will provide updates and reports on damage to libraries and distribution of funds. It will also provide information where direct donations could be made to specific libraries.
Recent Library Disasters by Year
2024 Disasters
September and October 2024: Communities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have been impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton. The ALA Chapter Relations Office is collaborating with our state chapter partners to identify affected libraries and facilitate the distribution of funds from ALA's Disaster Relief Fund.
If you'd like your donation to go to a particular community, please consider giving directly to local partners:
- Florida Library Association is raising funds for Hurricane Relief Fund for Florida Libraries
- North Carolina School Library Media Association is raising funds for the NCSLMA Disaster Relief Fund
In areas where available, ALA's Disaster Relief Fund will contribute to state association funds to support relief in impacted communities.
March 2024: A deadly EF3 tornado ripped through Logan County Library, Ohio. The Lakeview branch of the Logan County Public Library was heavily damage losing parts of their collections and furnishings and the location become uninhabitable The ALA Disaster Fund provided $2,000 to purchase books, DVDs, library signage, rugs, wall art, and bean bag chairs in time for the re-opening in a new location on August 22, 2024
Images from Libraries Damaged by Hurricane Helene and Milton
Hot Springs Public Library, NC - Flood Damage
Hot Springs Public Library, NC - Flood Damage
Hot Springs Public Library, NC - Flood Damage
Hot Springs Public Library, NC - Flood Damage
2023 Disasters
August 2023: Wildfires have destroyed houses and business throughout the island of Maui in Hawaii, including the Lahaina Public Library and King Kamehameha III Elementary School Library, which was extensively damaged by the fires. ALA supporters have provided $5,000 so far.
To donate to the ALA Disaster Relief Fund for Hawaii, please type "Hawaii" in the Tribute line at check out.
Learn more on how to support local libraries and groups from the Hawaii Library Association.
July 2023: Libraries across the state of Vermont faced historical levels of flooding. The catastrophic flooding impacted a large portion of downtown Montpelier including damage to Kellogg-Hubbard Library. ALA provided $5,000 to the Vermont Library Association which distributed the funds to impacted libraries.
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Book Sale Room Flooded intersection at School Street Water in basement lobby
(CREDIT: Dan Groberg, Executive Director · Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, VT)
March 2023: The EF4 tornado that decimated Rolling Forks, MS on Saturday, March 25, severely damaged the Sharkey-Issaquena County Library. The tornado also tore of part of the roof of the Amory Municipal Library. Both libraries are need support as they work to re-establish themselves to serve their communities.
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Sharkey-Issaquena County Library Amory Municipal Library
March 2023: Palmer Public Library in Alaska faced a roof collapse requiring a temporary library location. ALA's funding supported shelving and collections replacement. ALA provided $5000
2022 Disasters
October 2022: Florida in response to Hurricane Ian to be distributed by the Florida Library Association. ALA provided $1000.
September 2022: Letcher County Kentucky's Martha Jane Potter Elementary and West Whitesburg and Whitesburg Middle School libraries were flooded and lost collections. ALA provided $5000.
ALA’s previous disaster relief efforts include support after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Superstorm Sandy, Tsunami in Japan, Earthquakes in Haiti. ALA is partner of the National Heritage Task Force (HENTF) coordinated by Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and the Smithsonian Institution. HENTF’s mission is to protect cultural heritage in our nation’s states, tribes, territories, and local communities from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies.
ALA Donates $10K to Assist Libraries in Louisiana Damaged by Hurricane Ida
ALA Disaster Relief Fund sent $5,000 each to the Lafourche Parish Library (Louisiana) and the St. Charles Parish Library (Louisiana) the restore and upgrade resources and services.
St. Charles Parish Library suffered damage to a number of locations, with the West Regional Library being totally exposed as one side of the building was torn down. St. Charles will use the donation to help replace books and furnishings that were lost.
Hurricane Ida destroyed a satellite branch and severely damaged the inside of one of the main branches of the Lafourche Parish Library, which included back-up servers. As Lafourche Parish Library builds back, ALA’s donation is helping the library migrate its back-up system to the Cloud.
Assistance to Restore Public Libraries in Haiti
ALA and its members, through the ALA Disaster Relief Fund, have provided $20,000 to the Bibliothèque Nationale d’Haïti to re-establish two of its public libraries whose locations that were damaged and made uninhabitable due to the large earthquake that struck Haiti in August. ALA’s donation will provide for temporary locations for the St. Louis du Sud Library and the Marigot Library on the Tiburon Peninsula to keep their doors and services open during this critical time. Midley Joseph, staff at Bibliothèque Nationale d’Haïti, reports that preparation for the two new locations are now underway, thanks to the donation. Some of the funds are being used to repair of the roof of the Petit Goave Public Library which was newly built after the 2010 earthquake through support from ALA and libraries and donors across the United States.
Assistance and Relief after Hurricane Ida
Relief for libraries after damages from Hurricane Ida on August 29, 2021
Louisiana
Update: All St. Charles Parish Library branches closed until further notice
Louisiana State Library Public Library Emergency Status Blog
This blog lists updates from each Louisiana Parish
Louisiana Public Libraries Open or Closed Map
Donations Directly to Louisiana
The State Library of Louisiana is set up to take in direct donations to help libraries in Louisiana. Click here to donate.
Check donations can also be made to a specific parish library system (please note name of parish on check)
Louisiana Library Book Festival Foundation
PO Box 2583
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Mississippi Update (September 7, 2021)
The Mississippi Library Commission connected with most public library systems across the state by September 7. Libraries in Mississippi suffered minimal damage from Hurricane Ida. Jackson/Hinds Library System reports water damage to the Eudora Welty branch and concern over its collection. A number of systems, Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library, Lamar County Library System, Mid-Mississippi Regional Library System reported roof leaks during Ida, but minimal impact, and leaks were known issues from previous storms.
Thank You to Library Community Working Together To Assist in Library Relief Efforts
Kenosha Public Library Fines Go to Help Damaged Libraries
The Kenosha Public library Director, Barb Brattin, brought a request to the Library Board to approve one week of fines from all of the 4 branches and the bookmobile to be given to the ALA Disaster Relief Fund in response to the recent Hurricane damage. The week of September 25th - October 1st a total of $1,240.92 was collected in fines that week , and an additional $85.90 was donated by patrons and staff. A poster was used at all point of service locations to inform the patrons. The library also used social media to highlight the effort.
Book Review Group Donates $500
The Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG) which is made up of 40 public and private school librarians, public librarians and other professionals who work with young adults ages 12-18 voted to contribute $500.
Dickerson Memorial Library (MA) Knitting Group Contributes
The Northfield, Massachusetts library’s Thursday Night Knitting Group’s decided to give $300, half of the funds they raised at their fall Stash Bash to the Florida libraries.
50-50 Raffle Nets Funds for Disaster Relief
During the Baltimore County Public Library Staff Association’s annual Staff Day, the Association earmarked funds raised from a ‘50-50 Raffle’ for the ALA Disaster Relief Fund. The Raffle raised $202.50 to help libraries devastated by the recent hurricanes!
Neighborhood yard sale
Elissa Miller raised $515 at a neighborhood yard sale fundraiser for Puerto Rican libraries. Neighbors and friends got together to support libraries in Puerto Rico.
American Library Association
ALA LibGuide on Library Disaster Preparedness and Response from the ALA Library.
Disasters strike every area of the country, and disasters do not spare libraries. Usually there is little or no warning, and the best defense is a plan for effective response. This LibGuide offers resources for libraries of all sizes and types. It contains information on organizations that can provide disaster assistance; disaster recovery resources available online; and a bibliography of print resources.
Beyond Words the Dollar General school library relief fund
Dollar General, in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and the National Education Association (NEA), is sponsoring a school library disaster relief fund for public school libraries in the states served by Dollar General. The fund will provide grants to public schools whose school library program has been affected by a disaster. Grants are to replace or supplement books, media and/or library equipment in the school library setting.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Emergency Situations including Hurricanes
Library of Congress
Library of Congress Emergency Management, includes:
- Library of Congress What To Do If Collections Get Wet (response to floods and water damage for libraries, archives, museums; includes videos in English and Spanish)
- Cuidados de colecciones
- References
Smithsonian
- Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (see its Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) and Response and Recovery Resources)
- Archives and Preservation Resources Technical Information A Primer on Disaster Preparedness, Management and Response: Paper-Based Materials (1993; PDF)
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Hurricane Recovery Resources for Museums and Libraries
Other Resources
The Preservation Services department of the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) provides free preservation advice to institutions and individuals worldwide. The Center provides Preservation Leaflets with information on a wide variety of preservation topics and links to additional resources, such as Preservation Assessment and Planning, Protection from Loss: Water and Fire Damage, Biological Agents, Theft, and Vandalism, Emergency Management Bibliography, Cleaning Books and Shelves, Care of Photographs, Repairing Paper Artifacts, Choosing and Working with a Conservator, and more.
DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB Listserv is a discussion forum for librarians, information specialists, and other professionals interested in disaster health information outreach to their communities. As a participant in this listserv, you can stay informed about current disaster-related resources, connect to colleagues in the field, engage in information exchange and learn about new ideas, trends, training opportunities, and conferences in the area of disaster health information.
For a list of the news sources scanned for weekly news updates sent on this listserv, visit Disaster Information News Sources.
International Libraries
- To help international libraries, please contact the American Library Association International Relations Office at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 3201.
- Donate to ALA's Library Relief Efforts ALA Urges Library Supporters to Help Libraries Rebuild after disasters
Bibliography
Library as Safe Haven: Disaster Planning, Response, and Recovery; A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians by Deborah D. Halsted, Shari C. Clifton, and Daniel T. Wilson. Item Number: 978-1-55570-913-6
Let Us Know How We Can Help
If you think the American Library Association can help libraries affected by natural disasters (e.g., earthquake, tornado, fire, flood, hurricane) in any way toward recovery and relief, or if you have suggestions for emergency management resources and disaster preparedness, please contact the Chapter Relations Office: Michael Dowling at 312-280-3200.
