Disaster Planning for Special Libraries

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Guy Robertson is a senior instructor at Langara College, where he teaches library history, reference and readers’ advisory services, and records management. He is also an instructor in information security and risk management at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. He works as a consultant to organizations across North America, and has provided advice and services to libraries, archives, records centers, and museums in Europe and Asia. Mr. Robertson is noted for his research into book and manuscript theft, data loss and protection, and financial fraud and forgery. He has delivered keynote speeches, seminars, and workshops at conferences not only for librarians and archivists, but also for other professional and technical groups.

"COVID-19, something that left many library personnel having to think on their feet and be creative, receives attention in the areas it impacted. Initially it is discussed in the area of job security, and income consistency, then, as per its listing in the contents page index: ‘Appendix 5: corporate library pandemic management program’. Appendix 5 provides a very interesting and timely discussion on how so many libraries (and many other businesses I imagine) were caught short by the pandemic – and notes this was the case even during the flu pandemic a hundred years ago. While management plans have considered many of the issues common to their location, e.g. floods or earthquakes, and have adjusted with time to include increasingly possible terrorist attacks or computer hacking, the concept of a world-wide pandemic seems to have been too unimaginable to even be considered. What is extremely useful here is the presentation of the NSICL (Norfolk Square Investments Corporate Library) developed Pandemic Management Program. If for no other reason, purchasing this book will give you this well put-together, thorough, and organised plan that could easily be adapted to the unique needs of any library. Over several pages, the check-lists, explanations, and recommendations for Pandemic Preparation are succinct, accessible and something you’ll probably find yourself using as a base for your own newly identified policy/procedure needs!" --Journal of the Austrailian Library and Information Associated

• 1. A disaster planner for your library2. First challenges3. Assessing risks to your library4. Preparedness and risk mitigation5. Emergency and disaster response6. Assessing the damage7. Event recognition, disaster declaration, and crisis management8. Strategic alliances: Internal and external partners9. Operational resumption, succession planning, and postdisaster workspace10. Postdisaster concerns of library personnel11. Normalization12. Orientation and training13. Auditing your disaster plan14. Future concerns for special librarians: a personal viewAppendix 1: Risk assessment and analysis: the Library and Records Centre of a Financial Services and Investments firm in Vancouver, British ColumbiaAppendix 2: Law firm library: risk mitigation programAppendix 3: Western Petroleum Research Institute LibraryAppendix 4: Emergency equipment inspection and audit reportAppendix 5: Corporate library pandemic management programAppendix 6: Disaster response manager’s kit