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APLNB SPRING EVENT 2003 MAKES DISASTERS MORE "MANAGEABLE"Dean Lund, Conservator at the New Brunswick Provincial Archives, headed a list of speakers who presented a lively workshop on "Disaster Planning" at the May 3, 2003 APLNB Spring Event. Hosted by the UNB Faculty of Law and Gerard V. La Forest Law Library, the event drew nearly 50 participants, including librarians, library administrators, archivists, and museum staff from across New Brunswick. Anne LeClair of the Council of Archives of New Brunswick assisted Lund in providing bilingual support and answered audience questions posed in French. Lund began by outlining the steps in doing a risk analysis of a library, museum, or similar collection, including describing natural and man-made hazards and potential human errors. Recognizing these risks, writing them down, and ranking them by probability makes it easier to predict disaster situations and then either prevent or mitigate them. He shared with participants the N.B. Provincial Archives Risk Assessment as an example of how to work up a usable assessment. An important step is getting management to "buy in" to the notion that a disaster plan is worthwhile and needs the cooperation of employees at all levels if it is going to work. Lund suggested that this is one of the most important elements in facility risk planning. Lund then suggested solutions to damaged facilities and materials when a disaster strikes. He touched on water damage and resulting moulds, fire damage, ambient humidity damage, and vandalism, among other situations. After lunch, participants were treated to a private tour of the new Storage Facility that is being completed adjacent to the Provincial Archives on the UNB-Fredericton campus. Floor-to-ceiling customized shelving, sophisticated climate controls and fire protection devices are part of this cutting-edge facility. The workshop concluded with four New Brunswick librarians sharing their personal experiences with local disasters. Janet Moss (UNB Law Library), Jocelyne LeBel (formerly Legislative Librarian at the NB Legislative Assembly), Jane Higle (Bethany Bible College) and Tina Bourgeois (Chaleur Regional Library) recounted experiences with flooding, hurricanes and failed roofs and how they and their staffs coped with saving assets and trying to serve users while repairs were underway.
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