WebJunction - The learning place for libraries

Textbook studies tell us about the value of thoughtful data collection and advance planning before launching new references services. But what happens when there is no time to plan? Even for organizations that had so-called "disaster plans" in place, the enormity of the human catastrophe that followed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina took providers of information services in New Orleans and Baton Rouge by surprise. What does one do when suddenly there are thousands of homeless and desperate people just down the street from the library? Does one bar the doors? How does one deal with the barrage of questions about food, health services, social security checks, and other necessities of life? Drawing on first-hand accounts of these experiences, this presentation discusses approaches to disaster planning that could identify potential information needs and develop plans for providing services in the event of a similar disaster.