Deborah D. Halsted has over 30 years of professional library experience, primarily in academic medical libraries. It was after severe flooding in the Texas Medical Center Library in Houston caused by Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 that she became involved in disaster planning and recovery. In 2005 she coauthored Disaster Planning: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians based on her personal experiences. She has remained active in disaster planning, especially in extensive training in the National Incident Management System Incident Command System, which is vital to any incident, large or small. She received her master's degree in library science from Florida State University.

- Description
- Table of Contents
- About the Authors
- Reviews
Libraries have always played a special role in times of disaster by continuing to provide crucial information and services. The Stafford Act of 2011, a federal government directive, designates libraries as among the temporary facilities delivering essential services, making a Continuity of Operations Plan imperative for libraries. Peppered with informative first-person narratives from librarians recounting emergency situations, Halsted, Clifton, and Wilson cover such topics as:
- An eight-step approach to developing a risk assessment plan
- How to draft a one-page service continuity plan
- Information on how to use mobile devices and social media effectively in times of disaster
- Sample disaster plans, along with model exercises, manuals and customizable communications
Published in cooperation with the Medical Library Association (MLA), this nuts-and-bolts resource will enable libraries of all kinds to do their best while planning for the worst.
Contents
List of IllustrationsPreface
Appendix: ResourcesAbout the AuthorsIndex
"Should be required reading for all librarians who want to better prepare staff for the most dire of circumstances."
— Booklist
"Halsted, Clifton, and Wilson demonstrate their extensive research and valued expertise concerning disaster planning, response, and recovery through clear writing, relevant examples, and well-constructed text features. In addition to providing step-by-step instructions for constructing and carrying out disaster relief efforts, firsthand accounts of emergencies are scattered throughout the text and provide real-life insight into specific situations."
— VOYA
"Clearly explains the essential disaster preparation concepts and how to translate these concepts into actions. The first-person experiences that are interspersed throughout are valuable for understanding how actual situations were handled and, more importantly, what worked and what did not work. The three authors bring over six decades of collective experience in disaster planning and preparation to the topic. It is this experience that adds to the quality of the information and guidance provided."
— Technical Services Quarterly
"Well-organized and easy to use ... should be a staple in every library system."
— Catholic Library World
"Well thought out and clearly written ... without a doubt this publication is a significant contribution to the topic of libraries and disaster preparedness."
— The Library Quarterly