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  Library’s role is to be a communications hub and to provide information

State Library Response  Be 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

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  Compiled information for lawmakers on damages, costs of rebuilding, library needs...

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 mgt svs  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, cell numbers, home numbers, PIN numbers, more numbers  Inventory of your building, collections, etc.  Copies of insurance policies  Disaster recovery services contracts and agreements.

Gustav and Ike Three Years Later

Everyone Better Prepared  Contact information  Web site ready-to-go  Blog  Backup server in Monroe  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 5 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  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 5. Inexpensive backup hard drive

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