Robertson on Library Security and Disaster Planning

20

Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst

A disaster planner’s experience

Abstract

The author describes his education and early career as a library disaster planner. He notes that history contains numerous accounts of lost libraries and collections. He discusses his experiences in San Jose, California during the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, and how it prompted him to revise his planning methodology. He reviews five essential aspects of disaster planning, and the major components of a library disaster plan.

Keywords

Disaster planner

Disaster planning

Risks

Library disasters

Earthquakes

Loma Prieta earthquake

Natural hazards

Consultant

Client

Preparedness

Response

Resumption.

Library history contains numerous accounts of disasters, ...