| We have a separate Emergency Manual, just revised , which covers everything from Animals in the Library and Animal and Insect Bites to Bomb Threats, Civil Disobedience, Criminal Acts, Disruptive or Violent Patrons, Fumes, Power Failures, Harassment, Elevator Failure, Evacuation in emergencies, evacuation of folks with disabilities, communication with ITS for network failures, etc. etc. Not sure if we have duffel bags covered! This is separate from the collection disaster response plan, but flood and water leaks pages are included (provides information on who to contact). Administration is in charge of this manual. There is a bright red Quick Emergency Guide with key guidance (Keep Calm and Urge Others to Keep Calm) and contact numbers which fits into a clear cover pocket on the front of the manual. The manual itself is a binder with tabs. One thing we recently instated, which I find very helpful, is an online incident report form. Once the event is over, the initial reporter - staff or student employee - is expected to fill out the form quickly, they don't need to give their name, and that description of the event gets saved and tracked, and also shared on email with all library staff. This is how I now find out how many books are being tossed out of the windows on the upper floor, a not uncommon occurrence here, as Circ staff and students fill out incident reports. One problem we sometimes encounter is that staff like to respond quickly, and there are events and situations in which reporting the event is the primary and only requirement in order to ensure personal safety. One event last Fall involved a staff member entering a flooded area, clearly not allowed in the manual. And a very recent construction related "event" here involved a unknown powdery substance that turned out to be asbestos. The hope/expectation here is that the individual(s) would have left the room, not handled materials any further and reported it immediately. We have some training to do in the area of pausing to evaluate the situation. Karen Mokrzycki Preservation and Collection Planning University Library (292 McHenry) University of California 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 831-459-2021 On May 12, 2006, at 2:29 PM, Cathleen Martyniak wrote: All, I know many of us have written disaster plans that outline what we should to do when there has been a fire and some books get wet or there is an outbreak of mold after a rainy weekend. But how many of us have an 'emergency' plan that addresses what to do when there is a suspicious duffel bag left in the Lobby? Or mysterious white powder is found on the top of the circ desk one morning? Or what if a employee who was recently let go comes into the staff lounge with a loaded weapon? What happens if your network security is hacked and every computer in your systems becomes corrupted? How do staff in wheelchairs on 2nd floor and above get out of the building when the elevators are turned off in a fire situation? Do you have such an 'emergency' plan at your Library? Is your 'damaged library materials' plan (what we Preservation folk traditionally think of as a disaster plan) integrated with the 'emergency' plan? Or are they separate? Are you, as the Preservation Administrator, responsible for both? If not you, who?? Possibly the Human Resources officer? Any URL's or information you can provide would be most appreciated. I will summarize for the list if there is sufficient interest. Thanks, Cathy Cathleen L. Martyniak Head, Preservation Department Smathers Libraries University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 352-392-6962 (voice) 352-392-6597 (fax) |