Disaster Preparedness in Libraries : a study based on the museum library of Sri Lanka

Abstract

This research is conducted to identify the Disaster Preparedness in National Museum Library of Sri Lanka. Disaster preparedness is essential on the part of each library or archive. Disaster preparedness prevents response to damage caused by water, fire and other emergencies. This activity should be a priority in all institutions, the reason is because of the value of the collection, but although collections that are not meant to be stored for long are institutional investments, therefore must be saved. Disasters in libraries come in two main forms, namely natural and man-made. The museum library which has a largest collection in Sri Lanka. The main objective of this study is to identify the disasters influenced to the museum library of Sri Lanka related to the library building, staff, collection and recognized current disaster preparedness actions. The museum library of Sri Lanka is used as the sample. The questionnaire and interview were used as the instruments in this study to collect data. Data analysis is carried out using the word software. End of the research this study discovered not there a formal disaster management plan in this library and there is not a good support of the mother institute, financial constraints and an inadequate policy framework, less resources are reasons for that. It is recommended that library development plan for disaster management training programs for staff order to increase their preparedness about disasters and make a disaster management plan.