Crash Course in Disaster Preparedness - by Carmen Cowick (Paperback)

About the Book

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.

• Provides ways for all library staff, administrators, and volunteers to help in the case of an emergency
• Covers a topic that, while often ignored, is critical to the health of any library
• Raises awareness of the importance of disaster planning

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"An excellent tool for training and planning sessions for library staff, boards, and government officials." --Library Journal

About the Author

Carmen Cowick is director of preservation services at Preserve This, where she provides training, support, and consulting services for libraries in the areas of preservation and collections care.