A vital part of any disaster response plan is the initial and continuing survey of the library facility and service areas. The facilities audit or survey is necessary because it provides an overall view of conditions governing the safety and long-term preservation of the collection as viewed with a fresh and more critical eye. In general, the topics that must be considered during the survey include insurance coverage, responsibility for various aspects of the building structure, fire and water alarms, electrical wiring, and evidence of past problems. Often, action taken as a result of this survey may prevent a disaster from occurring.
• Checklists
of hazards and safety features
Fire
Water
Climate control
• Sensible
precautions
Basements
Other floors
Fire
