Disaster Mitigation in Libraries: A study based on the National Museum Library of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Libraries must play a vital role in society. As a developing country Sri Lanka is facing the challenges of the protection of Library collection, life of readers and staff as well as property. Because disaster management has become an essential part of the library. The main objective of this study is to identify the physical resources and human resources which are vulnerable for disasters of the museum Library of Sri Lanka and disaster management activities and to present a suitable disaster management action for the library. Other objectives are to investigate why the management of the institute was not interested in developing a disaster management plan, investigate why the management of the institute was not interested in developing a disaster management plan, to identify the mitigation problems of frequently-use collections in museum library of Sri Lanka and Highlight the importance of disaster management plan. The museum Library of Sri Lanka is used as the sample. Relevant data was collected from the respondents using several methods which included observation, face to face interviews and document reviews. The collected data was analyzed, interpreted, and presented using qualitative methods. The findings revealed that as the largest library collection in Sri Lanka, had taken several simple actions to protect their collection. But we can’t be satisfied about that. Because they are facing some problems. Such as there is no written policy on disaster mitigation in the library, lack of adequate facilities, inadequate fund allocation to libraries and lack of interest on the part of some disaster management issues. It was recommended that disaster mitigation facilities and funds to avert disaster should be provided for the government, to have mitigation and disaster management policy and ensure they are adhering to and provide guidelines to the use and management of libraries.