What Do I Do in an Emergency? The Role of Public Libraries in Providing Information During Times of Crisis

Zach, Lisl

doi:10.1080/0194262x.2011.626341

Cited by 46 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…If little else is learned from the recent experience of Elliot Lake Public Library, it is imperative to be aware of the fact that, in order to be the most effective, any disaster management plan must consider not only collection preservation and safety concerns but also a clear and actionable plan to ensure the uninterrupted availability of postdisaster information services (Bishop and Veil 2013;Dickerson 2007;Hamilton 2011;Jaeger et al 2006;McClure et al 2009;Wessling 2000;Zach 2011;Zach and McKnight 2010).…”

Section: Assuming a Leadership Role In Disaster Managementmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Should libraries maintain their largely reactionary approach to disasters, or should they adopt a more proactive role that considers the opportunities that a disaster-no matter how horrific-may provide for improving community engagement as well as library services (Bishop and Veil 2013;Dickerson 2007;Hamilton 2011;Jaeger et al 2006;McClure et al 2009;Wessling 2000;Zach 2011;Zach and McKnight 2010)? Disasters present an unprecedented opportunity for libraries to highlight their value to the community as professional providers of reliable information and communication services that may otherwise be unavailable to individuals during and following a disaster.…”

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confidence: 97%

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When Disaster Strikes: Opportunities for Community and Institutional Renewal at Elliot Lake Public Library

Stewart

2014

Public Library Quarterly

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collapsed suddenly, killing two people, injuring many more, and destroying many of the community's services, including the public library. After describing the events leading up to, during, and following the destruction of Elliot Lake Public Library, I discuss five opportunities for community and institutional renewal that are not currently being realized by the library. The destruction of the library need not be an entirely negative experience but, rather, a catalyst for refocusing the library's role and improving its services and facilities in order to better meet the changing information needs of the community.The majority of the literature on library disaster management focuses on the development of a short-term disaster management plan that emphasizes, primarily, the protection of the library's collection and, secondarily, the safety of staff and patrons (Green and Teper 2006; Khan 2012). Although collection preservation and safety are essential components of any library disaster management plan, the myopic preoccupation with these concerns has caused most scholars and professionals to ignore the broader and longerterm concern of post-disaster recovery in the event of a library disaster.

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Section: Assuming a Leadership Role In Disaster Managementmentioning

confidence: 97%

mentioning

confidence: 97%

When Disaster Strikes: Opportunities for Community and Institutional Renewal at Elliot Lake Public Library

Stewart

2014

Public Library Quarterly

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“…In an article about Ontario public libraries’ response to SARS information inquiries, Harris et al [69] suggest that many public library staff may be unprepared to provide such information. Similarly, in a review of public libraries’ responses to the 2009 H1N1 epidemic, Zach [70] notes that about a month after the first case of H1N1 was diagnosed in the US, only 15 out of 50 public library systems in the most populated US cities linked to CDC or other e-government information about H1N1. Overall, Zach [70] concluded that, despite some notable efforts, issuing risk alerts and providing epidemics preparedness information was not a priority for public libraries.…”

Section: Providing Health Information Relevant To Disasters and Emmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, in a review of public libraries’ responses to the 2009 H1N1 epidemic, Zach [70] notes that about a month after the first case of H1N1 was diagnosed in the US, only 15 out of 50 public library systems in the most populated US cities linked to CDC or other e-government information about H1N1. Overall, Zach [70] concluded that, despite some notable efforts, issuing risk alerts and providing epidemics preparedness information was not a priority for public libraries. On the other hand, while comfort level with specialized information provision will always differ by setting and topic, there are also responses of active engagement.…”

Section: Providing Health Information Relevant To Disasters and Emmentioning

confidence: 99%

Libraries and librarians: Key partners for progress in health literacy research and practice

Whitney

Keselman

Humphreys

2017

ISU

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The field of librarianship has a history of involvement in patient education, general literacy and information literacy efforts. This history and prominent placement in communities make libraries and librarians an excellent resource in advancing health literacy practice and research. This chapter provides an overview of health literacy and health information literacy efforts in US libraries over the past two decades.The chapter begins with the description of the role of the US National Library of Medicine in developing resources, programs, and partnerships serving health information needs of the public. It then overviews special training programs for increasing librarians' expertise with health information and health literacy support. The narrative also presents different models of health information outreach programs in diverse communities, focusing on serving special populations that may suffer from health disparities.The second half of the chapter describes libraries' and librarians' health information response to continuously evolving contexts, mediums, and requirements. One subsection describes librarians' outreach effort with cutting-edge technologies, such as virtual worlds and gaming. Another focuses on supporting patients' information needs in clinical settings. Two more describe how libraries meet patrons' health information needs in the context of disaster preparedness and health insurance market place sign-up.While presenting the information, to the extent possible, the chapter draws upon research and evaluation of the effectiveness of different types of programs. It also discusses enablers of successes, limitations of the existing data, and directions for future research.

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“…These statistics are key because FEMA aid forms can only be completed online and require certain types of software (e.g., web browsers) and technical know‐how. After a natural disaster, the need for e‐government services is heightened, explaining why public libraries have been identified as a centralized hub for connectivity following disasters …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities and Challenges for Public Libraries to Enhance Community Resilience

Veil

Bishop

2013

Risk Analysis

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This study bridges a gap between public library and emergency management policy versus practice by examining the role of public libraries in the community resource network for disaster recovery. Specifically, this study identifies the opportunities and challenges for public libraries to fulfill their role as a FEMA-designated essential community organization and enhance community resilience. The results indicate there are several opportunities for libraries to enhance community resilience by offering technology resources and assistance; providing office, meeting, and community living room space; serving as the last redundant communication channel and a repository for community information and disaster narratives; and adapting or expanding services already offered to meet the changing needs of the community. However, libraries also face challenges in enhancing community resilience, including the temptation to overcommit library capacity and staff capability beyond the library mission and a lack of long-term disaster plans and collaboration with emergency managers and government officials. Implications for library and emergency management practice and crisis research are discussed.

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What Do I Do in an Emergency? The Role of Public Libraries in Providing Information During Times of Crisis

Cited by 46 publications

References 30 publications

When Disaster Strikes: Opportunities for Community and Institutional Renewal at Elliot Lake Public Library

When Disaster Strikes: Opportunities for Community and Institutional Renewal at Elliot Lake Public Library

Libraries and librarians: Key partners for progress in health literacy research and practice

Opportunities and Challenges for Public Libraries to Enhance Community Resilience

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