[Preservenw] Are You Ready? Free March WESTPAS Disaster Preparedness Workshops

[Gary Menges]

The earthquake in Haiti has reminded us how vulnerable we all are to 
natural and man made disasters. You will note that this workshop is for 
those institutions that ALREADY have a disaster plan.  That plan can be an 
extensive one or a PreP Plan (Pocket Response Plan for Collections) 
developed in one of the WESTPAS workshops.  As long as you have a written 
document that includes collections response and recovery information and 
you meet the other two requirements listed below you are a candidate to 
attend. Workshops are scheduled in Seattle: Friday, March 5, 2010 and 
Portland: Friday, March 12, 2010. The workshop will help to move you to 
the next step in disaster planning and it's free!

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R U REDY?
Scenario Planning & Collaboration Among Libraries & Archives to Improve 
Disaster Preparedness for Collections

"Okay, now you have a plan, but do you know how well it will work in a real 
disaster situation?

This workshop will:

* Help you assess your vulnerabilities
* Test your plan using a scenario table top exercise
* Explore how collaborations can help you respond to a disaster
* Build a shared vision for disaster preparedness

It's better we should find answers now than after a disaster has occurred!"

Please plan to attend the workshop and encourage colleagues at nearby 
institutions to do the same. We need to be able to count on our colleagues; 
their capacity to respond effectively in an emergency will enhance the safety 
of your own collections as well as their own. Your leadership to bring 
disaster-alert colleagues together for this workshop will enhance disaster 
preparedness in your region!

Seattle: Friday, March 5, 2010 - University of Washington Odegaard Library - 
9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.

Portland: Friday, March 12, 2010 - Portland State University 9:00a.m.-4p.m.

Sponsored by Western States & Territories Preservation Assistance Service 
(WESTPAS)
Workshop instructors:

Seattle: Gary L. Menges, Preservation Administrator, University of Washington 
Libraries and WESTPAS consultant/trainer.

Portland: Kris Kern, Preservation/Catalog Librarian, Portland State University
Library and WESTPAS consultant/trainer.

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Who should attend:
When possible, send 2-3 participants from your library/archive/museum to work 
together on disaster preparedness activities:
 	* Staff member(s) responsible for emergency preparedness
 	* Administrator and/or manager responsible for the
 		building/collection
 	* Key members of the emergency/disaster team responsible for
 		decision-making

Requirements for attendance:
 	* A written disaster plan that includes collections
 		response/recovery
 	* A letter of institutional commitment to explore collaboration to
 		optimize preparedness
 	* A completed 3-page vulnerability assessment (distributed 3 weeks
 		before workshop)

Cost:    No fee; just your time, energy, and institutional commitment.
Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities and co-sponsored 
by the Washington Library & Washington State Archives.

Registration:     Pre-registration required. To register go to 
http://tiny.cc/ZePOL and click on the workshop date or go to 
http://westpas.org/courses.html#current to read about the workshop and to 
register.

For registration assistance contact:  Kathy Krause krause at plsinfo.org

For general & content information contact:  Gary Menges 
<menges at u.washington.edu> or Kris Kern <kernk at pdx.edu>