14.1 What's New or Important

• This entirely new chapter discusses disaster recovery issues that are specific to Federal depository libraries. While many excellent books, articles, and Web resources concerning disaster preparedness and recovery are available, as a depository coordinator, you NEED to know what to do in the immediate aftermath, how to handle treatment and replacement issues, and how to maintain processing and public service after a disaster affects the depository collection. The information presented is based upon the actual experiences of depository libraries that have been through many different kinds of disasters.
• Specifically, this chapter includes a general discussion of disaster preparedness, strongly encourages the development and documentation of a disaster plan, and provides instructions for a disaster response. The chapter also discusses the replacement of Federal documents damaged or destroyed in a Disaster and provides additional resources for more information concerning disaster preparedness and recovery.
• All U.S. Government publications supplied to depository libraries through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) remain the property of the United States Government; your depository is responsible for their replacement or repair if this property is lost or damaged.
• The following are some basic questions you should ask yourself about disaster preparedness and recovery.
  
  
  • Does your library have a disaster plan?
  • Does your library have supplies?
  • Does your library have up-to-date lists of emergency contacts?
  • Does your library have an easily accessible list of staff contacts to call first? What if your primary contact is unavailable?
  • Does your cleaning staff have this important contact information?
  • Does your library have an evacuation plan and maps?
  • Does your library have salvage priorities?
  • Does your library have an easy to understand information tree, for steps to take when an emergency arises?