Quick Tips for Disasters & Emergencies

Project Overview

This project covers tips and resources that library, archival, museum, and cultural institution staff can reference as they create, fine tune, or revise their institution's disaster plan. Implementing a disaster plan will guide employees to enact swiftly the procedures and protocols for a myriad of disasters from cricket invasions to persistent leaks that tend to only drip on irreplaceable items, or responding to rare, severe disasters.

To accompany this project, the CARLI Preservation Committee is partnering with the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) and Chief John High, Sr., to offer a January 2022 virtual program Working with Fire Professionals as people do not always understand how everyday items can help start a fire and how fast a fire can develop. This program will look at identifying fire hazards, how to prevent them, and how the fire department will respond to the call.

We hope to see you at the virtual workshop and watch the CARLI newsletter for more articles in the CARLI Preservation Committee’s Quick Tips for Disasters & Emergencies series.

- Jade Kastel, Music Librarian, Western Illinois University

Developing a Disaster Plan

An introduction to a curated list of guides for institutions wanting to embark in disaster preparedness or to revisit their current disaster plan. As spaces, collections (physical or digital), and staffing frequently change, an updated disaster plan is vital so staff can act quickly in an emergency response. These relevant resources allow all libraries to incorporate current best practices in disaster planning into their institution’s full disaster plan.

Disaster Kits

Illinois State University' Milner Library makes an effort to be prepared for anything. This means not only having plenty of disaster response supplies, but also having them close at hand. As our building is six floors there is no one location that is readily accessible to every part of the library. We solve this problem by making mini "Disaster Kits" that are located on each floor of the library. Disaster kits are one quick, low cost way to make sure your library can respond to any emergency as soon as possible.

Creating a Response Poster for Water-based Disasters

Finding water in a library setting is an unwelcome surprise. Depending on a person’s level of experience and the size of the leak, staff reactions to a water disaster can vary. To minimize stress and ease uncertainty, Northwestern University Libraries created a one-page water disaster poster to aid staff response. This article identifies information to include when creating your own poster and tips they've learned as its been in use.

Emergency Contact List on Campus

When a disaster may affect collections or is already causing damage, knowing who to call is one of the first steps in an effective response. Of course, if staff or patrons are in danger, they should call 9-1-1 immediately. If it is a smaller disaster with no immediate human threat, or after emergency services have been called, staff who discover the disaster should be ready with a contact list. This articles provides information on creating your local emergency contact list.

Don’t Table This! The Importance of Tabletop Exercises for your Disaster Plan

After creating your institution’s disaster plan it may seem like a good idea to give yourself a pat on the back and tell yourself and your colleagues “Job well done!” Certainly, this is a good first step, but your next step should be to consider planning a tabletop exercise to see, in a controlled setting, just how good your plan really is. Tabletop exercises are guided sessions led by a facilitator(s) to simulate an emergency. These sessions allow staff specified in the disaster plan to discuss and better understand their role during various disasters. 

Salvage Priorities Roadmap

An important aspect for disaster planning is to identify the most at-risk or valuable collections, the objects, collections, and records that are vital to your institution, and to have a plan in place to make sure those items are cared for as well as possible. Learn about creating priority lists, the content to include, and factors to consider in this article. 

An Overview of the Recent Renovation Project at the Chicago History Museum

Jade Kastel, a member of the CARLI Preservation Committee and Music Librarian at Western Illinois University interviews Julie Wroblewski, Head of Collections at the Chicago History Museum, on their recent renovation. Learn pearls of wisdom on completing institutional renovations and learn how the Chicago History Museum pivoted and successfully completed their project during the pandemic.

Project Wrap-Up

Melina Avery, Conservator, University of Chicago, wraps up the Preservation Committee's 2021-2022 annual project.