Space is still available for this free workshop for all types of libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and city and county record offices.  There is no charge to the institution, but pre-registration is required.  Western States and Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS) is offering a free 2-part disaster preparedness and response workshop for cultural property:

Everett, WA:

Part 1: Friday, July 8, 2011 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Part 2: Friday, August 19, 2011 9:00am – 4:00 pm

Location: Everett Public Library
2702 Hoyt Ave., Everett, WA  98201

This training is part of a coordinated regional approach to raising awareness about disaster planning for collecting institutions throughout the Western United States.  It is free to participants who will develop an institutional disaster plan for their collections as an outcome.  More than one person per institution is welcome to attend.  Pre-registration is required.

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Submitted by Jamie Graham, Librarian, Seattle Children’s

On March 29-30 of this year, I had the opportunity to attend the 2011 Disaster Information Outreach Symposium in Bethesda, Maryland.  Speakers and participants from all levels of government, non-profit, libraries and business gathered to discuss expectations, strategies, and services librarians and libraries could offer in times of emergency.  Questions of how to engage key players, deliver the right kind of services, and identify real needs vs. perceived needs ruled the day.

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Pacific NW Region Emergency Preparedness Coordinators, from left: Washington: Bob Pringle, Washington State University, Riverpoint Campus Library, Spokane; Alaska: Kathy Murray, Alaska Medical Library, Anchorage; Idaho: Marcia Francis, Idaho State University, Idaho Health Sciences Library, Pocatello; Oregon: Dolores Judkins, Oregon Health and Science University Library, Portland; Montana: Laurel Egan, St. James Healthcare Library, Butte

Emergency Preparedness Coordinators from each state in the Pacific NW Region, along with PNR staff, participated in the effort to create and promote service continuity plans for hospital libraries, beginning in 2008. This white paper details the NN/LM PNR’s approach to creating a plan to assist hospital librarians in emergency preparedness and inlcudes methods, photos, promotional items and sample MOUs.

The unprecedented earthquake occurring in Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011 and subsequent tsunami that devastated Japan’s western seaboard also affected a nuclear power plant in Fukushima.  Despite valiant on-going containment efforts, radioactive materials have escaped into the air, elevating radiation levels in surrounding areas.  As of March 16, emergency evacuation has been ordered for people who live withing 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from the troubled nuclear power plant.  While these events are occurring more than 4500 miles from the West Coast of the United States, there is growing public concern regarding radiation.  However, authorities from the Departments of Health in Washington, Oregon and Alaska (the three states in NN/LM PNR along the coast), state that there is no public health risk from the damaged nuclear reactor.

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Submitted by LeAnn Gelskey, Hailey Public Library, Hailey, ID

The Hailey Public Library received a $5,000 outreach award to host a free emergency preparedness and planning community event.  The event was held on October 23, 2010.  The event “Ready Hailey” partnered with local agencies and community organizations to bring information specific to emergency preparedness and planning to the community.

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NN/LM PNR is currently accepting Professional Development Award Applications. The purpose of the Professional Development Award is to enable individuals at NN/LM PNR Network member institutions to expand professional knowledge and experience to provide improved health information access to health care professionals and consumers. For this initial offering, we are focusing on Emergency Preparedness. We will offer other opportunities with a broader focus in the future.

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