Get a free taste of the Special Collections Handbook in its latest form. Facet Publishing have made Chapter 2 on Emergency Planning available via open access so everyone can see what the book has to offer. Keeping collections safe from fire, flood, and the other "enemies of books" has been the essential task of librarians … Continue reading Taste the Handbook!
Tag: Disasters
Salvaging Welsh Archives: latest on NLW fire
Latest on the National Library of Wales fire: this article on the BBC website which outlines the extent of the damage to collections and gives an insight into working practices and salvage processes. £5 million of damage was done and, sad to report, some archives were irreparably damaged by water and smoke. Lightly damaged material … Continue reading Salvaging Welsh Archives: latest on NLW fire
Danger! Contractors at (Hot) Work!
Got the builders in? This greatly increases the risks of fire and water damage to your building and collections and services. And "hot work" activities such as the use of blowtorches or welding equipment are particularly risky. Two major fires in heritage organisations in recent weeks graphically illustrate this point. Fortunately no-one was hurt as … Continue reading Danger! Contractors at (Hot) Work!
Mini Emergency Toolkit
"Eeek! Wet books! Water everywhere! What do I do first? What do I do next? How do I dry these books out? Should I freeze these things? IS THAT MOULD??" Special collections are at risk from floods (topical, alas) and other water leaks, not to mention fire. Prompt and effective action can make a huge … Continue reading Mini Emergency Toolkit
Emergency Toolkit
An essential new book from the Handbook's publishers, Facet Publishing, on a subject which is the very heart of special collections librarianship: Emergency planning and response for libraries, archives and museums, by Emma Dadson. To quote my comments on the Facet website, this book is ... "A realistic and practical primer on all aspects of … Continue reading Emergency Toolkit
The Special Collections Handbook 