Two years after the onset of the COVID-19 health pandemic, electronic resources librarians are assessing how the work in their libraries has changed and determining if certain modifications made to services and workflow processes are, in fact, transformational. The authors detail how service changes and telework during the pandemic affected…

The fundamental mission of the library is to provide users with unrestricted access to library resources anytime, anywhere regardless of their physical location, disability, or other circumstances. Library Access Service departments across the nation have been an innovation engine of creativity and opportunity for many decades. The global…

Successful disaster response is an exercise in managing human resources under very difficult conditions. Catastrophic disasters can disrupt both the physical communication networks and the social networks critical to efficient response and recovery. While a well-designed disaster plan serves as a framework, it often requires communication and…

Unprocessed archival collections can contain unknown and potentially hazardous materials that can be harmful to other collections and staff. Archival literature largely focuses on collection and personnel dangers posed by environmental hazards such as mold and insect infestation but not on pharmaceutical and chemical hazards. In this article, the…

In the wake of recent tragedies, campus security has become a hot issue nationwide. Campus libraries, as traditional meeting spots for varied groups of people, are particularly vulnerable to security issues. Safety and security problems that can occur at any library generally include theft, vandalism, arson, antisocial behavior, and assaults on…

A hands-on workshop simulated a library disaster and demonstrated the best strategies for salvaging library materials. Participants learned how to assess the available personnel and materials, the nature and extent of a disaster, and how to decide on a recovery strategy. (EM)

Disaster preparedness is an important issue in library management today. This article presents a general overview of the theoretical aspects of disaster planning in libraries. The stages of disaster planning are a circular process of planning, prevention, response, recovery, preparedness, and training.

Describes steps taken by the Weldon Law Library at Dalhousie University in salvaging books damaged in a major fire, including procedures and processes used in packing, sorting, drying, and cleaning the books. The need for a disaster plan for specific libraries is emphasized, and some suggestions are made. (CDD)

Describes how the library staff at Stetson University in central Florida coped with flooding. Offers recommendations on storage; carpeting; fans and humidifiers; emergency phone contacts; labeled keys; protective coverings for books; safe storage for "disaster" materials and equipment; removal of less valuable materials; sandbags;…

Explains the need for attention to library environment in terms of conservation, disaster planning, and external environmental factors. Discusses measures adopted at the University of the West Indies Trinidad related to operation and maintenance of buildings and physical plant, describes a workplace evaluation project, and examines factors…

Findings from a March 1980 Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) survey on preservation indicated that more than one-fourth of the members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) had written disaster plans, and many other plans were in preparation. This SPEC kit on preparing for emergencies and disasters comprises excerpts from…

This report presents the results of a year-long study designed to gather information on current preservation activities at the University of Oregon Library and develop recommendations to improve those activities. Summary reports are presented for the five study task forces, and 43 recommendations built on the preservation-related procedures and…

Describes a cooperative effort among five Bronx libraries, known as the Bronx Library Emergency Consortium, which is designed to enhance emergency recovery procedures in their libraries should a disaster occur. The history and collaborative nature of the consortium are described, and the consortium equipment and supply list for immediate disaster…

This final report is a product of a Preservation Planning Program (PPP) self-study conducted by the Colorado State University Library (CSUL) working with the Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) Office of Management Studies (OMS). Designed to put self-help tools into the hands of library staff responsible for developing plans and procedures…

This final report is a product of a Preservation Planning Program (PPP) self-study conducted by the State University of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook, working with the Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) Office of Management Studies (OMS). The PPP is designed to put self-help tools into the hands of library staff responsible for developing…