New York University. “Disaster Planning and Preparedness.” New York University Libraries. New York University Libraries, Nov.-Dec. 2007. Web. 16 June 2009.
by Cynthia Grady Sidwell Friends School, Washington D.C.
I have worked at Sidwell Friends Middle School since 2001. I review books regularly for VOYA and write for other library and education publications as well.. I have taught courses in children’s literature for students in kindergarten and graduate school and many grades in between. I am a member of ALA, ALSC, SCBWI, and The Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC. Cynthia's poetry website
ESSAY ABSTRACT
Since September 2001, most schools have revised and improved their emergency drill and disaster plans. We practice the usual fire drills, but no matter where our schools are located, many of us have drills for disasters most unlikely to hit us: earthquake, tornado, hurricane drills, as well as biological weapon and bomb threat response drills. We have distance learning plans in case of flu or other pandemic health crises. We’ve developed relationships with businesses in the area, in case the students and staff need to be evacuated to another site. We have emergency water and food supplies. So why do we need a separate disaster response plan for the school library?
The plans and procedures mentioned above are in place to protect the personal and physical safety of the students and staff inhabiting the schools. A library disaster plan will minimize harm done to the library collection in the event of a disaster; and it will help preserve the physical safety of the library materials so that when normal school routines resume, teachers and students will have access to a functioning library.
