Information Roles in Disaster Management Day 2 July 19, – 1400 CT Robin Featherstone, MLIS Liaison Librarian (Medicine) Life Sciences Library, McGill University Course materials: / /

Agenda DAY 1 Disaster information specialists Disaster management HOMEWORK: Reflection exercise DAY 2 Librarian roles HOMEWORK: Tabletop exercises

Homework from Day 1 Read the article by Erik Auf der Helde, The Importance of Evidence-Based Disaster Planning Reflect on his recommended interventions (summarized for you on the handout labeled Activity 2) Identify a professional service you could provide

Disaster Information Specialist Provides disaster-related library or information services as part of their ongoing job functions Possesses knowledge and skills to support disaster management Does more than protect library collections and maintain library operations

Objectives At the end of the webinar, you will be able to – Identify members of the disaster workforce and understand their patterns of information use – Identify professional roles for librarians during all stages of the disaster management cycle – Articulate how librarians historically viewed their roles in disasters – Recognize the valuable roles librarians have played in disaster management

How have librarians seen their primary role? 66% - protecting, preserving, and providing access to collections 10% - fostering community relationships and providing support (Zach, 2010)

Planning Roles (Zach, 2010)

Response Roles (Zach, 2010)

Recovery Roles (Zach, 2010)

What have been the roles of librarians? 1 1.Institutional supporters 2.Collection managers 3.Information disseminators 4.Internal planners (Featherstone, Lyon & Ruffin, 2008 )

What have been the roles of librarians? 2 5.Community supporters 6.Government partners 7.Educators and trainers 8.Information community builders (Featherstone, Lyon & Ruffin, 2008)

New Recognition of Libraries’ Roles: The Stafford Act Libraries are “essential community services” eligible for federal assistance “for the provision of temporary facilities”

Hospital librarians 1 (Donohue, 2012)

Hospital librarians 2 (Donohue, 2012)

Hospital librarians 3 How did you get involved?  Invited myself onto the Emergency Management Committee  Required to be involved as a department manager  New committee chairperson took over emergency management committee and wanted library involved. Previous group had not involved library (Donohue, 2012)

Case example Missouri Baptist Medical Center Medical Library … and Incident Command Center

Incident Command Center 1st image

Incident Command Center 2nd image

Incident Command Center 3rd image

Incident Command Center 4th image

Tabletop Exercise Pick one of the three tabletop exercises provided The tabletop exercise simulates a disaster situation and requires you to function in the capacity expected of you in a real event (FEMA, 2012)

Preparation time Most warningLess warningLeast warning HurricaneTornadoEarthquake Infectious diseaseActive shooterHazmat incident FloodingBuilding fireBridge collapse Etc.

Sample Earthquake Scenario It is 8 days after the earthquake. Following consultations with your Regional Medical Library, you designate two librarians to act as "information officers.” How might these librarians assist emergency managers? Who will cover their regular duties? How can the two librarians support one another in their new roles?

FINAL HOMEWORK Pick one of the three tabletop exercises provided Answer the questions and send your completed exercise to: Put the subject line as your last name_DIS_Homework e.g.,) Featherstone_DIS_Homework Once they receive your homework, MLA will send you the course evaluation and the link to download your course certificate.

References Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law as amended), Donohue, A. (May 21, 2012). Emergency Preparedness and Librarians: A Match Made in Hospitals! Poster Presentation given at the Medical Library Association Conference, Seattle WA FEMA (2012). Tabletop Exercise. Accessed April 7, 2012 from: Featherstone, R., Boldt, R., Torabi, N. & Konrad, S. (2012). Provision of Pandemic Disease Information by Health Sciences Librarians: A Multisite Comparative Case Series. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 100(2), Accessed May 12, 2012 from: Featherstone, R., Lyon, B. & Ruffin, A. (2008). Library roles in disaster response: an oral history project by the National Library of Medicine. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 96(4), Accessed April 3, 2012 from:

References cont. Folb, B. (March 30, 2011). Information Needs and Practices of Disaster Response Professionals: Findings and Implications.. [Presentation given at the Disaster Information Outreach Symposium, Bethesda, MD). Accessed April 2, 2012 from: Merchant, R.M., Elmer, S. & Lurie, N. (2011). Integrating Social Media into Emergency- Preparedness Efforts. NEJM. 365(4) Turoff, M. & Starr, R. (March 6, 2008). Information Seeking Behavior and Viewpoints of Emergency Preparedness and Management Professionals Concerned with Health and Medicine. [Report prepared for the National Library of Medicine]. Accessed April 2, 2012 from: Walsh, L., Subbarao, I., Gebbie, K., et al. (2012). Core Competencies for Disaster Medicine and Public Health. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. 6(1), Zach, L. (March 30, 2011). Librarians’ Perceptions of Roles in Disaster Activities. [Presentation given at the Disaster Information Outreach Symposium, Bethesda, MD). Accessed April 2, 2012 from:

Image Credits Missouri Baptist Hospital Library photos shared with permission of Sandy Decker Presentation Slides & Course Materials Program Information Acknowledgement This project is funded by the National Library of Medicine under contract HHS-N P

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