1. Risk Management & Disaster Recovery in Australian Public Libraries
Dr Diane l Velasquez
University of south Australia
2 august 2018

2. Defining a disaster Bush Fires Cyclones Earthquakes Floods
Human caused
Terrorism

3. Finding public libraries
Finding libraries that have had a disaster in the last years
Severity of the disaster
Whether or not it had been publicised in the local or national press
Surviving disaster and being able to discuss it

4. Methodology Emailed 60 Australian and New Zealand public libraries
10 Australian libraries responded (17%)
Face-to-face minute semi-structured interviews
Interviewed during June-August 2017
Digitally recorded
Hand coded iteratively

5. Preliminary Findings - Assets
Archival – local history or a unique donated collection
Buildings
Collections
People
Rare book collection

6. Emergency Management Plans
All libraries discussed emergency management plans coordinated with their council
Branches had books with complete plans and instructions
Some library managers have priority collections that should be removed in case of disaster or building destruction

7. Governance – Risk Management
Public library governance is at the leadership of the council
In some states, emergency management is legislated
Risk management plans are created and managed at the council level
Library manager implement them locally

8. Contact
Dr Diane Velasquez Program Director University of South Australia (08)