Are We Ready for the Worst ? Disaster & Libraries

Dr. Sabuj Kumar ChaudhuriLibrarian

Basanti Devi College (Govt. Sponsored)147B, Rash Behari Avenue

Kolkata-700 029

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Contents1.0 What is Disaster1.1 Features1.2 Types of Disaster1.2 Wrong Attitude1.4 Vulnerabilities1.5 Natural Disasters in the Last 30 Years1.6 -1.7 Images & Footage of Disasters in the

Library2.0 Phases of Disaster Plan3.0 Digital Information Sources4.0 Model Disaster Information System5.0 For a Better Tomorrow

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1.0 What is Disaster?

A disaster is the tragedy of a natural or human-made hazard (a hazard is a situation which poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment) that negatively affects society or environment.

Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, and destruction and devastation to life and property. The damage caused by disasters is immeasurable and varies with the geographical location, climate and the type of the earth surface/degree of vulnerability. This influences the mental, socio-economic, political and cultural state of the affected area.

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1.1 Features

A disaster may have the following main features:-

o        Unpredictabilityo        Unfamiliarityo        Speedo        Urgencyo        Uncertaintyo        Threat

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1.2 Types of DisasterNatural

Human-made Rain and wind storms Floods Biological agents

(micro-organisms, insect or vermin infestation)

Earthquakes Volcanic eruptions

Acts of war and terrorism

Fires Water (broken pipes,

leaking roofs, blocked drains, fire extinguishing)

Explosions Liquid chemical spills Building deficiencies Power failures

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1.3 Wrong Attitude “It will never happen in my library”-a

wrong attitude. Disasters strike every area of the country, and disasters do not spare libraries. Usually there is little or no warning, and the best defence is a plan for effective response.

Whether it is small or large-it is must be considered and prepared for.

Flood, fire, water, storm can completely or partially destroy the entire collection of the library like books, periodicals, computers & other digital materials.

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1.4 Vulnerabilities Libraries contain Analog>>>Printed Books , periodicals,

cartographic materials, microforms, sound tapes, audiotapes, etc

Digital>>CD/DVD, various computer systems, projectors, computer peripherals, servers, complicated LANs/WANs,

Distributed networks in campus spread in the same city or state; or in other country

various kinds of cables

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1.5 Natural Disasters in the Last 30 Years

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1.6 Human-made Disaster and the Library

National Library of Iraq Books are piled up

Library of Kabul University Destroyed Catalog Boxes 05/02/23 9

1.7 Natural Disaster and the Library

A Public Library in South 24 Parganas is completely damaged by AILA

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Natural Disaster in UWA

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2.0 Phases of Disaster PlanPhase Types of Plan

Before the Disaster Preventive +

Preparedness

During the Disaster Response

After the Disaster Recovery

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Contd…

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Phase 1 : Prevention Identify and minimize the risks posed by

the building, its equipment and fittings, and the natural hazards of the area.

Phase 2 : Preparedness Getting ready to cope. Develop a written preparedness,

response and recovery plan.

Contd… Phase 3 : Response When disaster strikes. Follow established emergency

procedures for raising the alarm, evacuating personnel and making the disaster site safe

Phase 4 : Recovery Getting back to normal. Establish a programme to restore both

the disaster site and the damaged materials to a stable and usable condition.

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3.0 Digital Information SourcesNational Information Sources

India Disaster Resource NetworkIt is an online inventory designed as

a decision making tool for effective emergency response operations in the shortest possible time

National Disaster Management Authority

National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP)

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International Information Sources

Sahana Sahana is an integrated set of web-

based disaster management applications & open-access and freely downloadable from this site.

Relief Web Asian Disaster Reduction Centre International Recovery Platform

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4.0 Model Disaster Information System

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5.0 For a Better Tomorrow Disaster planning is essential for any

institution to provide the best possible protection for its collections. Disaster can strike at any time — on a small or a large scale — but if an institution is prepared with right information, the damage may be decreased or avoided.

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“By Failing to Prepare, We are preparing to Fail”

-Sir Benjamin Franklin