Disaster Management and Contingency Planning in Modern Libraries

CALL FOR CHAPTER PROPOSALS

Proposal Submission Deadline: May 30, 2014

 

A book edited by

Emy Decker (AUC-Robert W. Woodruff Library)

Jennifer Townes (AUC-Robert W. Woodruff Library)

 

To be published by IGI Global: http://bit.ly/1fOOCfT

 

For release in Advances in Library and Information Science Book series

ISSN: 2326-4136

 

The Advances in Library and Information Science Book Series aims to expand the body of library science literature by covering a wide range of topics affecting the profession and field at large. The series also seeks to provide readers with an essential resource for uncovering the latest research in library and information science management, development, and technologies

 

Introduction

Library and archives disaster planning and contingency management go by many names: emergency planning, risk assessment, business continuity, etc. Awareness has increased over the past fifteen years, and now disaster planning is an ever-growing presence in modern consciousness. Any type of contingency planning for libraries is important because we are building more and more evidence that preparedness is possible, even if prevention is not. In general, anything involving extensive damage to the collections falls into the “disaster” category. However, it is important to draw a distinction between small-scale disasters, such as a burst pipe, and large-scale disasters, such as a category 5 hurricane. A naturally occurring disaster is an act of nature (tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes), as opposed to an anthropogenic disaster, which is caused or produced by humans (war, censorship, arson). The myriad ways in which we define disaster indicate our inability to predict them, and therefore we will never be able to prevent them. What we can do is prepare the one variable we do have control over: ourselves. By exploring disasters of different scale and devastation, we can begin to develop more complete and efficient disaster plans for our cultural institutions.

The literature about disaster planning has not given close examination to the different types of disasters to befall libraries, thus this book is based on emerging research and events exemplified by case studies. Contributions to this edited volume will explore libraries impacted by disasters of different scales, ranging from small to catastrophic and disasters of different types, from naturally occurring to anthropogenic.

 

Objective of the Book

This compendium of emerging research about disaster mitigation and contingency planning will better inform disaster planning at the design level. Additionally, this book will serve as a resource for those who have already experienced disaster and the ideas put forth will potentially spur positive change in organizational culture. This book will investigate the impact of large and small scale disasters — both anthropogenic and natural in origin — on libraries. Readers will learn from the experiences of others, expand their definition of disaster, and create or redesign their own disaster plans.

 

Target Audience

Our publication will benefit librarians, library staff, archivists, curators, students, local/state/national disaster preparedness professionals, private collectors, and corporations which store/archive collections.

 

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Contributors are welcome to submit chapters on the following topics relating to library disaster management and contingency planning:

 

         Disaster management and contingency planning in libraries

         Changes to disaster planning and recovery post-2000

         Library safety measures

         Changes to library materials conservation and restoration post-2000

         Emerging disaster management theory

         Emerging contingency planning theory

         Lessons learned from small scale disasters (broken pipes, fires, vandalism, storms, etc.)

         Lessons learned from large scale disasters (September 11th, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the Indonesian tsunami, Typhoon Haiyan, the Haitian earthquake, etc.)

         Social implications of disaster preparedness and management

         Public, academic, and private libraries and archives experiences with disaster of any scale

         Naturally occurring disasters

         Anthropogenic disasters

         Challenges/crises not commonly included in disaster plans

         Financial disaster planning (recession, staff cuts, effect on digital projects, etc.)

         Electronic backup failure (loss of backup servers, born-digital data, electrical surges, etc.)

 

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before May 30, 2014, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Proposals should be submitted through the link at the bottom of this page. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by July 30, 2014 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by September 30, 2014. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project. Proposals should be submitted through the link at the bottom of this page.

 

Publisher

This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the “Information Science Reference” (formerly Idea Group Reference), “Medical Information Science Reference,” “Business Science Reference,” and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. This book is anticipated to be released in 2015.

 

Important Dates

May 30, 2014:                                    Proposal Submission Deadline

July 30, 2014:                                     Notification of Acceptance

September 30, 2014:                    Full Chapter Submission

November 30, 2014:                     Review Results Returned

February 15, 2015:                          Final Chapter Submission

 

Inquiries can be forwarded to

Emy Decker and Jennifer Townes

Atlanta University Center – Robert W. Woodruff Library

111 James P. Brawley Drive SW, Atlanta, GA 30314

Tel.: (404) 978-2087, (404) 978-2053

E-mail: edecker@auctr.edu, jtownes@auctr.edu

 

Propose a chapter here

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