Libraries and archives need to have safety and security plans to ensure that staff are prepared to respond to fire, water emergencies, and other large-scale threats to collections. Emergency and disaster planning is clearly part of the broader concern about the fabric of an institution. So a library or archives emergency or disaster plan is but one element in a larger safety and security strategy to guide the entire institution's policies and procedures during such events as wars, terrorist actions, criminal acts, natural disasters, structural fires, serious medical emergencies, or releases of dangerous fumes and gases. Developing a manual of procedures to anticipate all these threats to the entire institution (for example, a university campus in the case of an academic library) is clearly a process in which librarians and archivists must participate, but over which they probably have little control or direct responsibility.

History has shown the wisdom of taking precautions before events that no one wants to happen or can imagine happening—whether war or any other catastrophe likely to affect the entire structure of an institution and the security of its collections. That ordinary archives or library staff could substantially remedy the effects of a catastrophe may be difficult to imagine. But some advance planning can significantly reduce the loss of unique materials, even in the event of war.

This section is divided into five main steps. It is recommended that you follow each section in order, as the information is cumulative.

1. Taking precautions against theft
2. Guarding against mutilation and vandalism
3. Protecting materials in book drops
4. Protecting materials on exhibit
5. Controlling entrances and exits