The “MayDay” project: promoting disaster preparedness

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this article is to make readers aware of the MayDay effort, an annual event, begun in 2006, designed to be the one day each year that emergency preparedness is concentrated on fully, and to encourage participation in MayDay 2007. The article also lists some general resources for disaster planning and preparedness. Design/methodology/approach -This is a viewpoint article discussing the MayDay initiative, and ways to enhance disaster planning and preparedness in cultural institutions. Findings -The article finds that MayDay 2006 launched a new initiative for disaster preparedness and planning. The idea is that this will become an annual time when cultural institutions dedicate the day to emergency preparedness and planning. Selected results of the first MayDay are described and the ideas for MayDay 2007 events are listed. Practical implications -This article provides information and examples of appropriate MayDay activities by describing MayDay 2006 events and providing pointers to online resources to assist archives and museums identify activities for MayDay 2007.Originality/value -Since Hurricane Katrina, substantial focus has been placed on disaster planning and preparedness in cultural organizations. This article promotes concrete actions that can be taken to enhance disaster planning and preparedness in cultural institutions and identifies resources on the Internet to help archives and museums in this endeavor.

Disaster management approaches for academic libraries: an issue not to be neglected in Greece

“…Much like CAVAL in Australia, this body could foster library collaboration, share and minimize costs and encourage innovative action. It would be also useful to establish national events that promote disaster management in Greek libraries and especially emergency preparedness (Pearce-Moses and Yakel, 2007). Further research could be devoted to the development of this official administrative body that would deal exclusively with disaster management in Greek libraries, helping them to address risks and disaster planning.…”

When Disaster Strikes: Opportunities for Community and Institutional Renewal at Elliot Lake Public Library

“…These include developing a disaster management plan; creating priority lists indicating the order in which items should be salvaged in the event of a disaster; maintaining an updated, offsite, and secure inventory of the library's collections and insurance policies for recovery and insurance purposes; ensuring that payroll stability and personnel information is similarly secured so that staff can continue to be paid and contacted at home if these records are lost; communicating any special needs of the library or procedures to be followed with emergency first responders and disaster recovery vendors prior to a disaster; ensuring that the local government and first responders are informed about the type of services that can be provided by the library in the event of a disaster in order to guarantee awareness about, as well as avoid unnecessary duplication of, these services; compiling sources of information regarding local, expert knowledge and supplies that might be critically important for both the local government and residents following a disaster; providing ongoing training for staff to ensure that they know how to respond in the event of a disaster; and establishing a formal measurement procedure to evaluate the type and volume of services offered by the library following a disaster (Bishop and Veil 2013;Clareson and Long 2006;Creber 2003;Curzon 2006;Green and Teper 2006;Hamilton 2011;Jaeger et al 2006;Kennedy 2006;Khan 2012;Knisely and Behrhorst 2006;Mansell 2003;Matthews, Smith, and Knowles 2009;Pearce-Moses and Yakel 2007). Topics less commonly discussed in this literature, however, are the opportunities that disasters-no matter how tragic-provide libraries to pursue community and institutional recovery and renewal.…”