Introduction
Advance planning for emergencies mitigates risks and damage to collections and is critical to institutional recovery when disasters strike.
Advance planning includes precautionary measures to minimize the likelihood or extent of damage to collections during a disaster and established workflows and resources to maximize recovery after a disaster. Advance planning also includes an institutional strategy (Continuity of Operations Plan or COOP) for returning to regular operations after a disaster, even if collections are not immediately available for use.
The recommendations compiled here cover these key concepts and represent general suggestions based on good practice in libraries, archives, museums, and other collection-holding institutions. These recommendations may be superseded by specific institutional requirements or by the instructions of civil defense or other emergency responders.
