Emergency Preparedness for Libraries. Julie Todaro
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It should also be noted that libraries throughout the world may be directed affected by these emergencies and disasters, and examples of these activities include libraries being bombed and/or burned during conflicts as well as looted. Clearly, the loss of both general and unique content and resources affects access to information needed by the global market. Additional impact of disturbances, conflicts, terrorism, and war is public policy enacted, which affects access to and availability of information.
Explosions: Natural Events, But More Commonly Man-Made Events
Explosions may be caused by man-made events either deliberately (terrorism and/or vandalism) or by mistake or accident; however, weather may also cause explosions and the ensuing damage might include—for library resources affected—fire and/or water damage. In addition, if explosions are caused by hazardous materials (see Sect. “Hazardous Materials: Chemical Spills/Accidents, Human Elements, Nuclear, Oil Spills, Radiological Accidents, Toxic Gas Releases”), then library building and/or resources recovery from substances will necessitate unique cleaning.
Hazardous Materials: Chemical Spills/Accidents, Human Elements, Nuclear, Oil Spills, Radiological Accidents, Toxic Gas Releases
Unfortunately, hazardous materials are not only occurring in the environment (nuclear, radiological, etc.) but are often found in the typical library workplace of today. This reality may be hard to grasp, but these materials may be individual elements such as a specific cleaning fluids or fuels or may be the result of the combination of specific elements. In addition, contemporary equipment or equipment elements may be dangerous such as the properties of batteries or cartridges. Along with natural and man-made element, hazardous materials may also be human blood and other human elements. Although not all hazardous materials need cleanup by HazMat (Hazardous Materials) standards, all handling, disposal, and cleanup must be carefully orchestrated. Another area of hazardous effects may also be the relationship of hardware/equipment monitor displays or emanations (from wireless, frequencies from security gates) for staff and/or constituents. A burgeoning area of concern also includes not a specific piece of hardware or equipment in and of itself, but instead the placement or proximity of resources to other hardware or equipment or the proximity to construction elements such as steel.
Not always a possibility in other emergency and disaster issues, prevention is a major element of emergency management with specific regard to hazardous materials being kept separate, materials within equipment and hardware be limited and carefully managed for use, replacement and removal, and equipment placement and proximity.
Mass Population Displacement/Refugee Emigration/Migrant Encampment
Libraries, although not officially first responders, play a major role in supporting a community as it experiences changes in population either permanently or temporarily. Population displacement in general, relocation to new locations of their own volition, and migrant encampment and incarceration dictate expanded resources and services, which means a possible need for increased funding and expanded expertise. The nature of assisting in assimilation of individuals into communities also directly relates to whether these individuals are displaced due to emergencies and disasters in other communities or political or social events and, in worst case scenarios, are displaced due to issues such as legal status and socioeconomic and political behaviors and actions at local, state, and federal levels.
Workplace Violence: Bodily Harm, Trauma, Unwanted Attention
• Individuals (staff violence includes vandalism, armed/combat, threats)
Organizations are not immune to staff-caused emergencies and disasters due to, for example, mental instability and illness and/or excessive anger. Although libraries have not had the staff behavior disasters as the post office or private sector, it is possible that library staff can cause destruction to the building, resources, and/or data as well as other staff peers or those in administration and management.
• Individuals (nonstaff violence includes vandalism, armed/conflict, and/or combat and threats)
Library constituents and/or individuals in umbrella organizations (e.g., school campus and/or city facility settings), as well as through wishing to make “public statements” in any public buildings, may cause vandalism, cause conflict (including armed conflict), and/or make threats.
In addition, the library may be the target because a worker may have a problem with a library constituent or user displaying unwanted attention. In addition, a worker can have difficulty with a family member who is a seeks to act out at the workers place of business.
The Basics of Responses to Emergencies and Disasters
If one reviews definitions of “emergency,” most include “unforeseen” and “unexpected” as descriptors for events and these definitions also couple these words with possible escalation to serious and dangerous situations. All definitions, however, include the need for immediate action to handle some or all event aspects. In addition, most discussions of emergency events recognize that an institution may well have standard practices and even emergency practices in place to mitigate emergency issues, but there are frequent situations where even standard practices must be enhanced or expanded and even integrated with emergency practices to ensure situations are handled appropriately.
Responses to Emergencies and Disasters—Today
Responses to any emergencies and disasters are dramatically different in today’s library and information settings; and, rather than getting easier, running these organizations is harder than ever before. Differences in environments today are due to communication opportunities for notification and handling, the seriousness of some conflicts, the range and variety of possibilities, and the breadth of some destruction (deaths of individuals, data destruction, etc.). Unfortunately, today’s managers are not familiar with emergency and disaster management; therefore, they are not equipped to prevent or handle situations as they arise. While today’s libraries have addressed some emergencies and disasters through policies, procedures, and elements of disaster planning, not all emergency management elements are in place.
Responses to Emergencies and Disasters—Tomorrow/Future
Administrators and managers—not equipped to handle many emergencies and disasters today—are ill-equipped for tomorrow or a future with emergencies and disasters needing attention. While managers try to catch up to today’s responsibilities, they not only must be learning about tomorrow’s issues for equipment/hardware, hazardous materials, inclement weather, conflict (to name but a few areas) but must also be integrating extensive continuing education and training into staff training; implementing plans for awareness of issues and budgetary needs for Boards and umbrella organization administration; and having a good grasp on risk factors for organizations including knowledge of value and assets of the organization. Tomorrow’s organizations need extensive articulated, written plans as well as significant funds and structures in place to protect staff, constituents, and real estate.
Twenty-First-Century Infrastructure: Organizations, Associations, Commercial/Vendor
Many organizations and associations are in place to assist administrators and managers in addressing the needs of the organization. These entities include long-standing resources that have expanded to include contemporary situations; newly formed groups to support new situations; and entities to divide content between home concerns versus workplace concerns. The private sector/vendor/commercial has grown at an enormous rate as well, and great variety exists for acquiring resources to assist in emergency management.
An increasing number of vendors have extensive content both in general and how to work with their products. In addition, organizations, associations, commercial sectors, and vendors have created web-based streaming video content and created training environments for managers and workers as well as recovery personnel on YouTube and various public wiki and blogging sites.
Twenty-First-Publications: Periodicals, Monographs, Online Environment
Just as entities have increased in great numbers, emergency management publishing