July 5 Assignment - Fire Disaster Plan

In case of fire, the University Libraries are at high risk of damage or loss of collections. This fire disaster plan outlines the steps needed to counteract and limit possible losses.

1. Preventative Steps

a) Fire drills will be held at random intervals to ensure that employees and library users are able to evacuate the building in a timely fashion in the event of a real fire.

b) Each office area will have an up-to-date floor plan indicating the closest regular and emergency exits.

1. Immediate Response

For the first employee to notice fire or smoke:

a) Locate and pull the nearest fire alarm - University Public Safety officers will immediately respond
b) Leave the building
c) Dial 911

For remainder of staff:

a) Upon hearing a fire alarm, leave the library building immediately, taking personal belongings only if they are immediately within reach.

2. During Fire

a) Do not re-enter the library building until notified by the Fire Department that it is safe.

b) Monitor users who have evacuated the building to make sure that none have questions or concerns.

c) Behave in a professional manner.

3. Following the Fire

In case of damage:

a) The head of the disaster team (usually a member of the preservation and conservation department) will notify the University Librarian and the remainder of the disaster team about the fire damage.

b) The team will begin the process of dialing the phone tree of library employees so that each employee is notified of the general situation.

c) The disaster team will assess the amount of damage done to collections and other library property.

d) The disaster team will write a report indicating the types of materials damaged, the approximate amount of each type of material damaged, and the approximate cost of repair or replacement. The report should also include a general map of where the damage was greatest.

e) The report will be submitted to the University Librarian, who will immediately consult with the disaster team to determine priorities for repair and replacement. Associate University Librarians in individual departments may also be part of this consultation team, depending on what collections sustained the most damage.

4. Salvaging Materials

a) The disaster team will consult the Libraries' Guide for Collections Recovery to determine the best methods for salvaging each type of material (e.g. bound books, paper documents, or microfilm). The team will defer to the head of the disaster team in case of ambiguity.

b) Collections can be outsourced for repair or repaired in-house, depending on the amount of damage done.

c) Following repair and replacement of collections, the disaster team will write a final report, detailing the course of the fire disaster, what responses worked well, and what should be improved in the disaster plan in case of future emergency.