An Ounce of Prevention: Integrated Disaster Planning for Archives, Libraries, and Record Centres (review)

An Ounce of Prevention has come of age. The second edition of this classic disaster-planning manual, originally published in 1985, has been released with a significant new subtitle: Integrated Disaster Planning for Archives, Libraries, and Record Centres. The second edition is truly a new publication, incorporating advances in planning, recovery, and technology and stressing the integration of disaster planning in all aspects of librarianship and archives and records management. In their own words, the authors have provided a "planning tool to manage the process, one that draws on a great number of resources, one that is process-driven, but also supplies the content necessary for its execution." (p. xv) The first edition of Ounce guided the development of a disaster plan, which was considered a conservation activity; the second edition presents disaster planning as a continuous, integrated process that crosses hierarchies and functional boundaries. It is an organizational responsibility that demands ongoing institution-wide commitment. And it yields much more than a disaster plan.

The book deals with the three stages of a disaster—before, during, and after—and is organized according to planning phases that Wellheiser and Scott recommend, with each of the ten chapters representing a phase. The authors describe the planning process and the players and provide ample supporting information, such as standards and excerpts from other well-chosen sources. They make good use of tables, charts, and other graphics to clarify or distill data; the "process at a glance" insets/text boxes that bullet the planning steps are especially helpful. Besides the main table of contents, each chapter is prefaced with a more detailed table of contents. The authors acknowledge that the process-based structure of the book may inconvenience readers seeking information about a single topic. However, the table of contents and the index are sufficiently detailed and thorough to afford quick hits. The authors make clear the scope of the book, with its focus on collections, facilities, and systems; it is not about human health or safety or building design, although these topics do appear now and then.

The first two chapters make the case for disaster planning and spell out first steps. We learn that disaster planning and training are on the upswing since 1985, and that many archives, libraries, and records centers are adopting a sensible new approach to disaster planning—one that focuses on avoiding losses to ensure continuity in service delivery. The discussion of the initial planning process is outstanding. The authors describe the plan as "not just a plan but a set of separate yet interrelated plans or strategies" (p.15). They recommend a planning model that entails two teams: the Disaster Planning Committee (DPC) and the Disaster Action Team (DAT). This is a sound approach, and one that has worked effectively for many institutions, including mine.

The next chapters deal with disaster prevention, protection, and preparedness. While the words may get muddled, the point is clear—disaster planning must encompass risk identification/remediation (prevention), fire/water detection/suppression systems (protection), and many aspects of preparedness—including establishing collection priorities, understanding insurance, and arranging for equipment, supplies, and services. The section on protection provides a succinct but thorough description of the myriad detection and suppression systems—information that is indispensable for anyone engaged in construction or rehabilitation projects.

The second half of the book focuses on disaster response, recovery, and rehabilitation. This section provides emergency instructions and recovery and rehabilitation strategies for collections as well as facilities and systems. The focus should be on resuming service delivery, and getting back to normal as soon as possible. The chapter on disaster response planning has a frighteningly effective projection of the costs of disaster recovery. This sort of value...