Dealing with floods, earthquakes, and volcanic damage. How libraries/archives handle emergencies in the event of natural disasters

Abstract

Some considerations related to the preliminary technical and methodological knowledge on emergency and risk to prevent damage from natural disasters to the documentary Cultural Heritage. More knowledge are available in the authoritative reference sources, of IFLA websites. Standard and good practices in case of disaster can help to prepare the reaction to reduce the risks for libraries, archives and museums, and to prepare a specific emergency plan for the risks of damage from water and fire. Disaster causes are happening more for climate change and for other factors related to globalization and crisis. Digital and technology offer possibility to do more: collecting data, exchange and communications. Digitization can support rescue contents and memory of damaged material.

Cooperation among libraries and local institutions at different levels with stakeholders is important to share fundamental experiences during the emergency and reduce resources. Globalization is the most varied violent affecting libraries, archives and museums. The emergency plan, in the library should be prepared and tested related to the strategy of safeguard and protection of local Cultural heritage.

Education and training of all the staff are important to give more responsibility and consciousness to manage and to care of heritage preservation for the future generations. Need more competences and different approaches. The exercises are important, involving all the staff in more new practices to learn and test with the simulation the eventual risk of disaster and working together organized in mixed multidisciplinary teams, group or network and sharing experiences.

Keywords: Education, Training, Emergency, Cooperation, Responsibility