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Crash course in disaster preparedness
Book
2018
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Library Journal Review
This no-nonsense workbook from Cowick (director of preservation svcs., Preserve This) helps libraries prepare for disasters. Many libraries have emergency plans but may not have considered salvage priorities or keeping a copy of their plans off site. Here, the author discusses organizing a disaster team and provides worksheets with pertinent tasks. She covers fire- and water-related issues, mold and pests, medical emergencies, large-scale theft by patrons and staff, active shooters, bomb threats, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes, addressing prevention, response, and salvage and recovery procedures, as well as communication. Also included are exercises and drills for staff training, an annotated bibliography, and a chapter on technology tools. Though the real-life examples aren't detailed case studies, readers may find that knowing another library has dealt with an infestation of bedbugs, for instance, gives them a starting point. VERDICT An excellent tool for training and planning sessions for library staff, boards, and government officials.-Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
CHOICE Review
This new title in Libraries Unlimited's "Crash Course" series of workbooks provides a quick and readable introduction for library staff on dealing with a disaster that may befall a library. Written at the paraprofessional level and focusing on public libraries, most chapters provide a basic outline, templates, forms, short exercises, and a brief bibliography. Although a wide variety of different types of disasters are covered in a mere eight chapters, chapter 5, "Salvage Procedures," deals exclusively with how to recover from water damage caused to physical library collections. Chapter 6, "Staff Training: Exercises and Drills," contains group activities and scenarios intended to facilitate an annual staff practice drill. Interestingly enough, the text only addresses library staff interactions with the media; training library staff for interactions with governing boards, city officials, the police, FEMA officers, and volunteers is not covered. Overall, however, this volume would be useful for basic, self-guided library staff development, and as a potential text for a library science class. Summing Up: Recommended. Library science students and professionals. --Lisa Ann Beinhoff, Texas Tech University Health Science Center at El Paso, TTUHSC
Summary

Every library needs to have a disaster management plan in place before disaster strikes. This short but thorough manual makes preparing for disaster less intimidating.

All library staff, from library volunteers to library directors and branch managers, have a role to play in preparing for and recovering from disaster. Written by an expert in preservation services, Crash Course in Disaster Preparedness contains all of the information library professionals need to prepare for an emergency, should one arise.

Carmen Cowick identifies common terminology; teaches readers how to conduct risk assessment, how to write a disaster plan, and how to design emergency procedures; and introduces readers to the basic principles of salvaging. Throughout, Cowick shows readers how to prioritize library collections during a fire, flood, power outage, and other natural and human-caused disasters so as to maximize preservation of library materials.

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