Emergency Preparedness
Service Description
To assist Harvard Library repositories in mitigating and being prepared for collections emergencies, Library Collections Emergency Team (LCET) members:
- Coach repositories in creating, practicing, and updating emergency plans
- Collaborate with repository and facilities staff to identify and mitigate collections emergency risks
- Maintain a cache of less common emergency supplies, available to all Harvard libraries in urgent situations
- Collapsible, corrugated plastic boxes (aka Rescubes) in multiple locations
- Small amounts of hand tools, ziptop bags, etc.
- Offer group and customized training to Harvard Library and repository staff in emergency planning, response, and salvage
- Comprehensive hands-on workshops
- Tabletop exercises
- 1-hour emergency response
- The Library Collections Emergency Team also provides emergency response advice and consultation via a 24/7 phone line.
Resources
We encourage all Harvard libraries to develop a written emergency preparedness plan to prevent and decrease damage to collections that are threatened during an emergency.
Harvard Tools for Emergency Planning
- Broad Areas of Responsibility During Emergencies
- Initial Response Communication Plan (MSWord .docx download)
- Emergency Supplies Recommendations
- Collections Emergency Preparedness Benchmarks (spreadsheet .xlsx download)
- 2021 Library Collections Emergency Plan Template (editable MSWord .docx download)
- Collections Salvage Priorities
- Protecting Collections During Renovation
- Preparing Collections for Shutdowns/Vacations
Outside Resources
Supplies for Emergencies
Recent Emergency Training Events
- (What If) A River Runs Through It: Salvaging Water-Affected Audiovisual Materials
- AV Identification and Salvage Workshop Handouts (HUID access only)
- Guidelines for Managing Mold Contamination
- Hurricane Preparedness
See Also
- Emergency Response
- LCET wiki (team members only)