An Ounce of Prevention: Integrated Disaster Planning for Archives, Libraries, and Record Centers [Paperback]

Johanna Wellheiser (Author), Jude Scott (Author), John Barton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002 | ISBN-10: 0810841762 | ISBN-13: 978-0810841765 | Edition: Second Edition

Fire, flood, earthquake, vandalism, a terrorist attack—the issues of safety measures, emergency response, and disaster recovery have now become an important part of the planning strategies for most organizations. For the information organization, such as a library, archives, or record center, this responsibility has taken on new dimensions with the proliferation of various forms of electronic media.

The authors take the approach that disaster recovery planning must touch every department of an organization and that emergency response must be a carefully mapped strategy. This broad-based approach to "integrated disaster planning" explains each phase of disaster planning, with chapters covering prevention planning, protection planning, preparedness planning, response planning, and recovery planning. The authors consider collections, records, facilities, and systems and include a chapter on post-disaster planning as well. The authors also cover federal and local assistance programs and list other sources for financial assistance. Although the main thrust of the book is the protection of documents, human safety in case of disaster is stressed explicitly and implicitly throughout.

Indispensible for every information organization.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This useful resource provides a comprehensive framework for libraries and other organizations interested in preventing and handling situations that may damage property or disrupt services. (Medical Reference Services Quarterly )

...a comprehensive guide to planning for disaster prevention, protection, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation for archives, libraries, and record centers. (C&Rl News )

...covers all the steps from writing the plan to what to do after a disaster forces you to implement your response to a worst-case scenario. (American Libraries )

I would encourage anyone who is responsible for the protection of records to review this publication...The authors should be applauded for bringing this information together in one dense but important package. (The Public Historian )

I strongly recommend this book to anyone dealing with or concerned about disaster planning. The book is an excellent starting place and, in many cases, will provide the appropriate information without the need to refer to additional resources. (Technicalities )

Any public library that has valuable holdings...should have a copy of this book...Highly recommended for all North American public libraries -- and academics as well. (Public Library Quarterly )

An Ounce of Prevention is a must-read for both the novice and seasoned disaster planner. What makes this book important is its clear articulation of the planning process...An encyclopedia of current, accurate knowledge about risk management and cultural asset protection, An Ounce of Prevention is an important contribution to the literature of archives and library management. (Portal )

It is the most detailed and useful guide on this subject that I have come across. It should be on the bookshelf of every emergency planning team, local studies librarian and archivist. (Library & Information Update )

The authors carefully detail each phase of disaster planning focusing on the purpose of each phase, on the process for it, on priorities to determine, on strategies to set up...This book will no doubt be of major interest to all professionals in charge of cultural heritage. (International Preservation News )

As the single most comprehensive disaster planning manual to date, the book is highly recommended to all archivists, librarians and record managers who plan to initiate or improve disaster management programs of their institutions. (New Library World )

...[this] resource directed specifically at archives and similar organizations provides a useful filter for this information. (Archivaria )

About the Author

Johanna Wellheiser is the manager of Prevention and Digitization Services Department at Toronto Public Library. She co-edited the first edition of An Ounce of Prevention, winner of the Society of American Archivists' Gifford Leland Award. Jude Scott is a writer and researcher specializing in projects for the Canadian heritage and cultural sectors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press; Second Edition edition (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810841762
• ISBN-13: 978-0810841765
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,296,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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