Disaster Preparedness and Planning: University of South Carolina's School of Medicine Library

FAIN: PG-50044-07

University of South Carolina Research Foundation (Columbia, SC 29208-0001)
Felicia Yeh (Project Director: May 2006 to October 2008)

Consultation to prepare a comprehensive disaster plan for the library's collections and training of staff in disaster recovery. The library houses rare books of importance to the history of medicine, particularly in South Carolina, rare medical instruments from the 1800s and early 1900s, and health-related ephemera.

This project will support activities involved in the development of a disaster plan for the School of Medicine Library. Our library is home to various collections of materials of great importance to the humanities. Included are collections of resources, available to professionals and the general public, that are used in medical, historical, and sociological research and for health-related community projects. The library is in need of a comprehensive disaster plan to ensure staff preparedness in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. In an environment that is vulnerable to hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding, wildfires, and other disasters, having an effective disaster plan and training in disaster recovery is essential for the safeguarding of the library's socially valuable collections. This project will span from January to December 2007, and will include the hiring of consultants to provide guidance on developing the plan and training in disaster planning and recovery.