Disaster & libraries -are we ready for the worst?

1. Are We Ready for the Worst ?
Disaster & Libraries
Dr. Sabuj Kumar Chaudhuri
Librarian
Basanti Devi College (Govt. Sponsored)
147B, Rash Behari Avenue
Kolkata-700 029
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2. Contents
1.0 What is Disaster
1.1 Features
1.2 Types of Disaster
1.2 Wrong Attitude
1.4 Vulnerabilities
1.5 Natural Disasters in the Last 30 Years
1.6 -1.7 Images & Footage of Disasters in the Library
2.0 Phases of Disaster Plan
3.0 Digital Information Sources
4.0 Model Disaster Information System
5.0 For a Better Tomorrow
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3. 1.0 What is Disaster?
 A disaster is the tragedy of a natural or human-made
hazard (a hazard is a situation which poses a level of
threat to life, health, property, or environment) that
negatively affects society or environment.
 Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great
damage, loss, and destruction and devastation to life
and property. The damage caused by disasters is
immeasurable and varies with the geographical
location, climate and the type of the earth
surface/degree of vulnerability. This influences the
mental, socio-economic, political and cultural state of
the affected area.
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4. 1.1 Features
A disaster may have the following main
features:-
o Unpredictability
o Unfamiliarity
o Speed
o Urgency
o Uncertainty
o Threat
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5. 1.2 Types of Disaster
Natural Human-made
 Rain and wind storms
 Floods
 Biological agents (micro-
organisms, insect or
vermin infestation)
 Earthquakes
 Volcanic eruptions
 Acts of war and terrorism
 Fires
 Water (broken pipes,
leaking roofs, blocked
drains, fire extinguishing)
 Explosions
 Liquid chemical spills
 Building deficiencies
 Power failures
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6. 1.3 Wrong Attitude
 “It will never happen in my library”-a wrong
attitude. Disasters strike every area of the
country, and disasters do not spare libraries.
Usually there is little or no warning, and the
best defence is a plan for effective response.
 Whether it is small or large-it is must be
considered and prepared for.
 Flood, fire, water, storm can completely or
partially destroy the entire collection of the
library like books, periodicals, computers &
other digital materials. 07/14/13 6

7. 1.4 Vulnerabilities
 Libraries contain
Analog>>>Printed Books , periodicals,
cartographic materials, microforms, sound
tapes, audiotapes, etc
Digital>>CD/DVD, various computer systems,
projectors, computer peripherals, servers,
complicated LANs/WANs,
Distributed networks in campus spread in the
same city or state; or in other country
various kinds of cables
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8. 1.5 Natural Disasters in the
Last 30 Years
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9. 1.6 Human-made Disaster and
the Library
National Library of Iraq Books are piled up
Library of Kabul UniversityDestroyed Catalog Boxes
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10. 1.7 Natural Disaster and
the Library
A Public Library in South 24 Parganas is
completely damaged by AILA
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11. Natural Disaster in UWA
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12. 2.0 Phases of Disaster Plan
Phase Types of Plan
Before the Disaster Preventive + Preparedness
During the Disaster Response
After the Disaster Recovery
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13. Contd…
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 Phase 1 : Prevention
Identify and minimize the risks posed by the
building, its equipment and fittings, and the
natural hazards of the area.
 Phase 2 : Preparedness
Getting ready to cope.
Develop a written preparedness, response
and recovery plan.

14. Contd…
 Phase 3 : Response
When disaster strikes.
Follow established emergency procedures for
raising the alarm, evacuating personnel and
making the disaster site safe
 Phase 4 : Recovery
Getting back to normal.
Establish a programme to restore both the
disaster site and the damaged materials to a
stable and usable condition.
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15. 3.0 Digital Information
SourcesNational Information Sources
India Disaster Resource Network
It is an online inventory designed as a decision
making tool for effective emergency
response operations in the shortest
possible time
National Disaster Management Authority
National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project
(NCRMP)
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16. International Information Sources
 Sahana
Sahana is an integrated set of web-based
disaster management applications & open-
access and freely downloadable from this
site.
 Relief Web
 Asian Disaster Reduction Centre
 International Recovery Platform
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17. 4.0 Model Disaster Information
System
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18. 5.0 For a Better Tomorrow
 Disaster planning is essential for any
institution to provide the best possible
protection for its collections. Disaster can
strike at any time — on a small or a large scale
— but if an institution is prepared with right
information, the damage may be decreased
or avoided.
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19. 07/14/13 19
“By Failing to Prepare,
We are preparing to Fail”
-Sir Benjamin Franklin