1st Edition
Disaster Management in Archives, Libraries and Museums
This important book assesses the current state of disaster management in archives, libraries and museums in the UK and around the world, and provides recommendations for addressing current and future threats. Following an introductory outline of the topic and terminology, the authors provide a short history of the development of disaster management in the cultural heritage sector. They illustrate a basic framework for effective disaster management by reviewing disaster control plan practice from around the world. Through examining and identify the key issues affecting disaster management in archives, libraries and museums, the authors discuss a priority structure for future implementation. This book will be key reading for scholars and students of archive studies, library and information and museum management. It will also be extremely useful for professionals and policy makers involved in disaster management planning at a local and national level.
Biography
Graham Matthews is Professor of Information Management, Loughborough University, UK, having previously worked at Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Central England, and in academic and public libraries.Â
'Disaster management, in an increasingly complex world, is an essential part of library and information work. This volume builds on the work of a research project that reviewed practice in archives, libraries and museums and relevant other fields. It presents the findings in a way that enables the reader to determine its relevance to them and their organisation and helps guide them in planning strategically in protecting assets of importance whether of historic or commercial value. It is a must have reference tool for those developing plans in this area.' Alan Brine, De Montfort University, UK '...the volume provides excellent data, frameworks, and conclusions that are practical and valuable to anyone actively involved in disaster management. The chapters on disaster plans and the bibliographies have broad application to librarians, archivists, and museum professionals participating in the process of creating and revising disaster plans.' Journal of Archival Organization, Vol 8 No 1, 2010 'One of the strengths of this book is in exploring the many dimensions of the subject and presenting them in an organized way.' Architectural Science Review, September 2010 'This is an excellent snapshot view of the state of disaster management in the United Kingdom. Matthews, Smith, and Knowles offer the professions an opportunity to take these research findings and craft working disaster management policies applicable across boundaries, within localities, and as best practices to emulate. This book belongs in the working collections of archives, libraries, and museums.' Library Collections, Acquisitions and Technical Services, 2009 'This work is an important addition to the literature of disaster planning in the cultural domains... I commend the work to anyone with a strategic or operational responsibility for disaster planning in a cultural institution. Aside from the valuable research presented, it is also a very good read.' New Library World Vol 111 No 9-10, 2010
