Disaster response and recovery

This submission by ALIA is to inform the Second National Action Plan under the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework. The submission provides responses to Discussion Questions three and five as follows: outline the enablers that are fundamental to ALIA's efforts in reducing disaster risks (Q3); identify gaps that impede efforts to reduce disaster risks (Q3); highlight an opportunity to develop and deliver a collections disaster training course (Q5).

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) highlights the role public libraries can play as part of the emergency management process and reinforces their contribution, not only to information and learning, but also as a ‘third place’ – not home, school or work, but a shared community space.

This document has been updated from an earlier edition (ALIA, 2010) and provides various disaster training scenarios which can help staff to prepare, update and refine library Disaster Plans and assist in staff training. A list of key issues is also provided for facilitators to select and adapt to help groups explore the implications of the different disaster scenarios.

This resource can be used in conjunction with the ALIA Disaster Management for Libraries: Guide (Part 1) and Disaster Plan Template (Part 2).

This template has been flexibly designed for your library or cultural institution to develop its own collections Disaster Plan. It is to be used in conjunction with the Guide (Part one) which provides an overview and context for the Disaster Plan. The template is based on a medium to large sized library but can be tailored to meet the needs of smaller libraries, or other collecting organisations.

This guide provides concise information about how to safeguard library collections in the event of a disaster and has been updated from an earlier edition (ALIA, 2010). The Guide (Part one) gives an overview and context for the Disaster Plan. The Disaster Plan Template (Part two) provides further details and a flexible integrated model with tables and a checklist for you to adapt and develop your library’s own Disaster Plan.

ALIA Universities and Research Libraries (URLS) & Blue Shield Australia Conference - Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) discusses how Libraries Australia can help organisations guard against information loss due to natural disasters, human error, library closures or system issues.

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference paper presents case studies of disasters that have affected university libraries in Australia and around the globe and discusses the issues to be considered in formulating emergency management responses.

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines risks to the preservation of cultural heritage due to armed conflict and the effects of climate change and introduces the three phases of cultural property protection:

1. Before an event - prepardeness, mitigation and prevention
2. During an event - emergency first responders and first aid
3. After an event - recovery and reconstruction

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines the disaster responses, challenges and lessons learned in relation to the flooding of the Australian National University (ANU) Chifley Library.