Disaster Planning

Disaster Planning : prevention, preparedness, response, recovery. A library or archives disaster is an unexpected event which puts collections at risk. No institution can be excluded from or is immune to the possibility. Disaster planning is a matter of basic security for libraries and archives, their staff and their collections. It is considered to be an essential part of any preservation programme to be implemented by any kind of library or archives. A formal written plan enables an institution to respond efficiently and quickly to an emergency, and to minimize damage to the building and its contents. – Natural Disasters Rain and wind storms Floods Biological agents (micro-organisms, insect or vermin infestation) Earthquakes Volcanic eruptions – Man-Made Disasters Acts of war and terrorism Fires Water (broken pipes, leaking roofs, blocked drains, fire extinguishing) Explosions Liquid chemical spills Building deficiencies (structure, design, environment, maintenance) Power failures Natural disasters cannot be prevented, but measures can be taken to eliminate or reduce the possibility of trouble. Regardless of the many forms a disaster may take, the actual damage to collections is usually caused by fire or water. Even when they are not the initial factor, fires and floods almost invariably occur as secondary causes of library and archives disasters.     Fire Books burn fairly slowly. Paper chars and crumbles when handled. Smoke and soot discolour books not otherwise affected. Microforms and audio-visual materials can be completely destroyed or damaged beyond repair.   Water Paper absorbs water at different rates depending on the age, condition and composition of the material. Generally speaking, books and manuscripts dated earlier than 1840 absorb water to an average of 80 % of their original weight. Modern books, other than those made of the most brittle paper, absorb to an average of 60 % of their original weight. Leather and parchment warp, wrinkle or shrink. The damage done to book covers may be irreparable. Water can cause gelatinization on parchment. After floods, mould rapidly begins to form in damp conditions.    Audio-visual materials, photographs, microforms, magnetic media and other discs, are also vulnerable to water, and the damage depends on the type of the material, the length of exposure to water, its temperature, etc. Earthquakes Shelving may collapse and the contents be thrown on to the floor. Few books can withstand such treatment. Fire and water damage often result from seismic activity. Biological Agents Materials may be eaten, soiled, stained and shredded. This usually involves four phases : Phase 1 : Prevention Identify and minimize the risks posed by the building, its equipment and fittings, and the natural hazards of the area. Carry out a building inspection and alter factors which constitute a potential hazard. Establish routine housekeeping and maintenance measures to withstand disaster in buildings and surrounding areas. Install automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems, and water-sensing alarms. Take special precautions during unusual periods of increased risk, such as building renovation. Make special arrangements to ensure the safety of library or archival material when exhibited. Provide security copies of vital records such as collection inventories, and store these off-site. Protect computers and data through provision of uninterrupted power supply. Have comprehensive insurance for the library or archives, its contents, the cost of salvage operations, and potential replacement, re-binding and restoration of damaged materials. Phase 2 : Preparedness Getting ready to cope. Develop a written preparedness, response and recovery plan. Keep the plan up-to-date, and test it. Keep together supplies and equipment required in a disaster and maintain them. Establish and train an in-house disaster response team. Training in : disaster response techniques identification and marking on floor-plans and enclosures of irreplaceable and important material for priority salvage Prepare and keep an up-to-date set of documentation including : Building floor-plans, with locations of cut-off switches and valves. Inventory of holdings, with priorities for salvage marked on floor-plans. List of names, addresses, and home telephone numbers of personnel with emergency responsibilities. List of names, addresses, and home telephone numbers of the in-house disaster response team. List of names, addresses and home telephone numbers of trained conservators with experience in salvaging water-damaged materials, resource organisations, and other facilities able to offer support in the event of a disaster. List of disaster control services, in-house supplies and equipment, and in any central store, including locations and names of contacts with home telephone numbers. List of suppliers of services and sources of additional equipment and supplies, including names of contacts and home telephone numbers. Arrangements made to access freezing facilities. Arrangements for funding emergency needs. Copies of insurance policies. Salvage procedures. Distribute the plan and documentation to appropriate locations on- and off-site. Institute procedures to notify appropriate people of the disaster and assemble them rapidly. Phase 3 : Response When disaster strikes. Follow established emergency procedures for raising the alarm, evacuating personnel and making the disaster site safe. Contact the leader of the disaster response team to direct and brief the trained salvage personnel. When permission is given to re-enter the site, make a preliminary assessment of the extent of the damage, and the equipment, supplies and services required. Stabilize the environment to prevent the growth of mould. Photograph damaged materials for insurance claim purposes. Set up an area for recording and packing material which requires freezing, and an area for air-drying slightly wet material and other minor treatment. Transport water-damaged items to the nearest available freezing facility.      Phase 4 : Recovery Getting back to normal. Establish a programme to restore both the disaster site and the damaged materials to a stable and usable condition. Determine priorities for restoration work and seek the advice of a conservator as to the best methods and options, and obtain cost estimates. Develop a phased conservation programme where large quantities of material are involved. Discard items not worth retaining, and replace or re-bind items not justifying special conservation treatment. Contact insurers. Clean and rehabilitate the disaster site. Replace treated material in the refurbished site. Analyse the disaster and improve the plan in the light of experience.