Geoffrey Skinner
Library 200
Dr. Schmidt
April 25, 2001
Natural and human-caused disasters hit libraries no less often than any other institution, yet the impact of losing a library collection far outweighs the dollar value assigned to the damage. Libraries face a variety of disasters, ranging from fires to floods, and from insects to brittle paper. Despite the unpredictable nature of disasters, libraries can minimize their losses through careful planning and formulate disaster plans to deal with each phase of an emergency. Larger institutions may not necessarily rely on strict plan, but may instead rely on a highly professional and knowledgeable staff working together with conservators to manage emergencies. Two recent events at Stanford University are examined for their use of the disaster plan. With each occurrence, libraries can learn from other's experiences and improve the chances of saving their own priceless collections.