Exploring Roles for Bookmobiles in Disaster Preparedness and

Response

Dan WilsonCoordinator, National Network of Libraries of

Medicine Emergency Preparedness & Response Initiative

NN/LM National Emergency Preparedness & Response Initiative

To aide the welfare of a community or parent institution following a disaster by ensuring access to biomedical information and core

library resources and services to health professionals, library patrons, and the public.

Goal: To Build Greater Readiness in Our Nation’s Libraries.

Promoting awareness, energizing library staff,

and providing tools for improving readiness.

http://nnlm.gov/ep/

Planning Templates

Training

A 10-Step Approach to Service Continuity Planning

Step 1: Assess RisksStep 2: Protect yourself, your staff, and your patronsStep 3: Create procedures to ensure continuation of core servicesStep 4: Create procedures to ensure access to core materialsStep 5: Develop a Mutual Aid Agreement with another library or networkStep 6: Proactively plan for the rescue and recovery of your highly valued materialsStep 7: Develop a communication planStep 8: Know how to obtain outside assistanceStep 9: Develop a PReP for Service ContinuityStep 10: Be prepared at home

15 Features of a High State of Library Readiness

1. Comprehensive Disaster Plan updated at least once a year2. Response station (e.g., flashlights, first aid kit, bullhorn, plastic,

battery operated radio, etc.) for handling an emergency3. One-page Service Continuity Pocket Response Plan (PReP)

updated at least quarterly4. Shelter-in-place location5. Communication plan that incorporates redundancy of means of

communication and procedures for updating website, Facebook page, and/or Twitter

6. Service continuity team7. At least one scheduled evacuation drill per year8. At least one table-top exercise per year9. Library and/or librarians integrated into parent institution’s

disaster plan10. Core print textbooks/materials identified and labeled or shelved

together11. Servers with core online resources on unlimited emergency

power12. Mutual Aid Agreements with other libraries or networks for

delivery of core services13. Prioritized recovery list of all valuable materials14. Partnership (contract not required) with commercial salvage and

recovery company (e.g., Belfor, BMS, Munters)15. 72-hour emergency kits at the homes of all members of service

continuity team

To find out about EP&R activities and training opportunities in your region, contact your regional

medical library at 1-800-DEV-ROKS

Over 6,000 members

NN/LM EP&R Summits

Director, Miami/Dade PLSCoordinator, Gulf Coast Libraries ProjectVOADHead of Security, Library of CongressPepcoFacilities Director, San Francisco PLDisaster PsychologistFEMANN/LMDIMRCUSGS GeologistMedical Reserve CorpsMiami/Dade Public Health

Stephen’s Lighthouse Blog

SirsiDynix Outfits Bookmobile for Hurricane-Ravaged Hancock County Library System

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—December 15, 2005—SirsiDynix announced today a cooperative effort with libraries in Maryland to donate a fully equipped bookmobile to Hancock County Library System, a Mississippi library hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina. The donated bookmobile will serve as a temporary replacement for Hancock County’s Pearlington branch, which served both an elementary school and the general public. To outfit the bookmobile technologically and integrate it with the library system’s existing software, SirsiDynix donated hardware and software. The bookmobile will open its doors on Dec. 19 with a celebratory ceremony at its new Pearlington location.It also reminds us that bookmobiles are keeping up with the times too.Stephen

GertieThey tried to interest the Smithsonian in taking Gertie, a 1962 Gerstenslager that looks like a cross between a bus and milk truck and is thought to be one of the nation's oldest bookmobiles.

"They very gently declined," said Elizabeth Stearns, a spokeswoman for the Waukegan Public Library.

Then came a new idea, with a heroic twist: sending Gertie to Jefferson Parish, La., to serve readers in an area where Hurricane Katrina damaged 16 libraries.

- Chicago Tribune News, Feb. 14, 2006

Where can bookmobiles fit into all of this?

• Preparedness

• Response

• Recovery

Contact Information

danwilson@virginia.edu