Public Librarians’ Response to Hurricanes: Lessons, Issues and Strategies Rebecca Hamilton State Librarian State Library of Louisiana

Lessons Learned  Existing emergency plans are inadequate;  Business continuity was not a focus of library disaster planning;  Traditional lists of staff home phone numbers are inadequate; and  Library’s role is to be a communications hub and to provide information.

State Library Support & Direction  Legislative auditor provided training in FEMA process;  Hosted SOLINET disaster planning workshop;  Established secure Extranet for public libraries to post disaster plans; and  Compiled information for lawmakers on damages, costs of rebuilding, library needs and so forth.

State Library Response  Serve as central clearinghouse for information about libraries, for libraries and for library staff;  Act as spokesperson to the national media for information about libraries in the state;  Coordinate donations and “adoption” services;  Provide whatever is needed: technical support, staff, office space, website hosting, etc.;  Provide support and direction.

Role of Public Libraries in their Communities  Internet access, help with computer use;  Food, phone, fax;  Listen and offer support;  Temporary cards;  Story hours at shelters;  Normalcy;  Distribution point for other relief agencies.

“Libraries are not essential services” – FEMA, Cameron Parish, 2006

Public Libraries as First Responders  Coordinate with local emergency management services;  Be “at the table” in all local planning sessions before the disaster hits;  Promote what the library can do to help;  Portray yourself as a communications hub, not a book storehouse;  Have your own records in order.

Basic Library Records  Payroll, timesheets;  Contact information, mobile and home numbers, PIN numbers, more numbers;  Inventory of building, collections, etc.;  Copies of insurance policies;  Disaster recovery services contracts and agreements.

Gustav and Ike After Katrina and Rita Three Years Later

Everyone Better Prepared  Contact information;  Web site ready-to-go;  Blog;  Backup server in North Louisiana;  New IT infrastructure.

State Library IT Preparations  The State Library systems never lost power.  We were up when the rest of state government was down for five days.  We had other state agencies and state officials sitting in our parking lot with laptops using our wireless connection.

IT Preparations: Used  Generator Power;  Server Room;  Backups;  Backup server;  Disaster website; and  Wireless access.

IT Preparations: Not Used 1. Matching servers so hardware was interchangeable; 2. Secured non-essential servers in closet; 3. Core services backed up identically on all servers; 4. Tape backups stored in safe, in closet and off site; and 5. Inexpensive backup hard drive.

Next Steps  Portable generator to run laptops;  More functionality needed for backup server in North Louisiana;  Set up command center with cable, Internet, computers, phones, printer, etc.;  Develop pre-written press releases and media alerts for local media.