Response Video
The Preservation Directorate at the Library of Congress
Conservators with the Library's Preservation Emergency Response Team explain and demonstrate how the Library of Congress prepares for and responds to emergencies that threaten or damage collections, in particular, for dealing with water-damaged collections. The video includes a brief description of the broad range of preservation activities undertaken by the Library's Preservation Directorate. Video en Español: los conservadores de la Biblioteca demuestran los pasos fundamentales para rescatar materiales afectados por agua.
Past Workshops
Formerly called the SafetyNet Series.
Mitigation During Emergency Response: Stabilization of Paper and Film-based Materials
History of emergency management in cultural institutions; current approaches and strategies for protecting collections; recovery of collections exposed to water; prevention and control of mold; and effective drying and freezing methods.
After the Disaster: Replace, Recover or Digitize?
Evaluation of various disaster recovery options and workflows for providing access to titles damaged by a disaster; developing a disaster recovery contract; how to set up work plans -- large scale and small -- to deal effectively with damaged materials.
Damaged Item Workflow [PDF: 585 KB / 4 pp.]
Damaged Item Workflow (text version) [PDF: 45 KB / 1 p.]
Can We Relax Yet? Assessing Risks to Library Collections and Operations
Pratical approach to risk assessment; insurance valuation for library collections; self-insurance for federal libraries; automated model for evaluating risks and setting priorities for implementation of controls to reduce risk.
FLICC Disaster Preparedness National Update
Updates on national and international initiatives on disaster preparedness in cultural institutions.
Getting Your Feet Wet
Introduction to risk assessment and emergency preparedness: how water damages various types of library collections; best practices for damage mitigation; recommended disaster supplies.
Integrating Tools Into Your Agency's COOP
Developing a Continuity of Operation Plan (COOP).
Networking for Disaster Response
Overview of: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), its networks of responders, and how they are activated in the event of a disaster; the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) network for emergency response training; what tools are available for responding to a local and regional disaster; training needed to effectively implement and activate a disaster network.
Related Events
Permanent Public Access to Authentic Government Information – Meeting the Mission with FDsys
Program held at the Library of Congress and sponsored by FLICC on the development of the Government Printing Office's (GPO) digital repository, the Federal Digital System (FDsys). FDsys is at once a content management system, an advanced search engine, and a preservation repository and as such, reflects one of the preservation initiatives for the Federal Depository Library Program. Speakers: Kate Zwaard and David Walls (U.S. GPO).
Safeguarding Document Collections, Part I
Meeting convened by the Library of Congress to gather oral histories of "first preservers" or conservators who aided library and archive collections in the wake of the 2005 hurricane season and to review findings of the Heritage Health Index survey pertinent to emergency preparedness for collections and future funding needs.
Safeguarding Document Collections, Part II
Meeting convened by the Library of Congress to update stakeholders on the Library's planning strategy and which elicited ideas and feedback to help the subsequent shaping of the Library Services Strategic Plan with regard to preservation objectives. Three focus groups discussed research, emergency mitigation, training, and other preservation needs and objectives.
