The WNYLRC Disaster Manual

Abstract

Abstract The Western New York Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Manual for Libraries and Archives (hereafter referred to as the WNY Manual) was first published in 1992 with the assistance of a grant awarded by the New York State Library as part of its 1990 New York State Conservation/Preservation Discretionary Grant Program. A revised second edition appeared in 1994 but nearly eight years would pass before the idea of updating the manual would resurface. Gail Staines, Director of Western New York Library Resources Council (WNYLRC) at the time, had been suggesting the need for a revision. However, it was the events of September 11, 2001 that highlighted the need for libraries to be prepared to respond to any disaster, natural or man-made. Thus, in 2000/2001, WNYLRC's Preservation Committee was charged with updating and revising the Manual to reflect the needs of twenty-first century libraries. This article explains the purpose and structure of the manual.