the community eye of the hurricane: gulf coast public libraries’ experiences and needs related to...
TRANSCRIPT
The Community Eye of the Hurricane: Gulf Coast Public Libraries’ Experiences and
Needs Related to Hurricane Response
Karen Vargas, Michelle Malizia and Cindy Olney
NN/LM South Central RegionSCC/MLA
October 19, 2010
The public views libraries as “a first choice, first refuge, and last resort in a range of
emergency and e-government circumstances1” – Bertot et al.
*
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Hurricanes are the most common disaster to hit the South Central Region
NN/LM SCR explored ways to support public libraries’ hurricane response
through a needs assessment
©Istockphoto. All rights reserved
From this needs assessment, the NN/LM SCR developed a plan for working with
public libraries
©Istockphoto. All rights reserved
Needs Assessment
Methods
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The needs assessment was conducted with public librarians
from Texas and Louisiana
Phase one involved phone interviews with public librarians
Phase 2 involved advisory group meetings in Texas and Louisiana
Findings
Health care providers and emergency responders need to know the resources
public libraries provide
Shelter ● Information ● Meeting Space ●Internet Access ● Expert Assistance
Public librarians should know more about health professionals
and emergency responders
“Is my house underwater?”
“Where can I fill my prescription?”
“Is the water safe?”
“How do I complete this FEMA form?”?
“¿Habla usted español?”
“Where is the rest of my family?”
Libraries are the information centers for displaced victims
“Can I go home?”©Istockphoto. All rights reserved
Information needs • Local services• First aid• Environmental hazards• Mold control• Mental health
Cell phone and Internet connectivity was not reliable
It was a challenge for library staff to protect themselves
emotionally
The NN/LM SCRAction Plan
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Promote public libraries to emergency responder communities
Public librariesrock during
emergencies!Pass it on!
Provide opportunities for public libraries to network with emergency responders
Offer a tutorial called Mental
Health for Librarians During a Disaster
Offer NN/LM emergency preparedness training and
information through the State Libraries
Offer a Disaster Preparedness Award
Develop a buddy system to help public libraries with users’ health information
needs during hurricanes
1Bertot JC, Jaeger PT, Langa LA, and McClure CR. Public access computing and Internet access in public libraries: The role of public libraries in e-government and emergency situations. First Monday [Internet]. 2006 Sep 4 [cited 2010 May 27];11(9):[about 18p.]. Available from:
http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1392/1310
Reference
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, under Contract No. N01-LM-6-3505 with the Houston Academy of Medicine—Texas Medical Center Library.