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Research Project on the Role of Librarians, Staff, and Libraries During Times of Disaster and Crisis
Research Project on the Role of Librarians, Staff, and Libraries During Times of Disaster and Crisis
The project began in 2015 when a team from the University of South Carolina (then School of Library and Information Science) began research about the role of the public library and library staff during and after major floods in South Carolina. The project has continued several years examining other SC hurricanes/floods, Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Northern California wildfires, Southern California fires and flooding, and tornadoes and floods in Kentucky. I am part of the three person team led by Dr. Feili Tu-Keefner. We hope the information will help to inform and enhance LIS programs as well as provide important continuing education and professional development opportunities by those who create these trainings. We are also seeking to build a framework which can enhance other librarianship and create a database of resources so that others can learn about best practices and services before, during, and after disasters. Our team has been presenting at conferences since 2016 as well as publishing articles. Read more at preparedlibraries.org which is our resource depository.
The South Carolina Day by Day Family Literacy Calendar is designed to be a tool that families, caregivers, educators, and librarians can use at home and in the classroom to further develop early literacy skills that help young children become prepared for, and to do better in, school. I created the first one in 2009. It's available in English, Spanish, and online.
EveryDay Literacy was an umbrella literacy initiative for families and children. This poster session “EveryDay Literacy: South Carolina’s Toolbox for Library Centered Intergenerational Literacy Programs," was presented at IFLA Wrocław, Poland, August 2017.
Flood Book Donation Project
Flood Book Donation Project
During the severe floods of 2015 in South Carolina, I was able to coordinate thousands of book donations for the State Library Foundation. Public libraries and some school libraries were able to select items from the shelves of books to replace collections. Donations came from publishers large and small, authors, a few companies, individuals, and even a special group project in Kansas who sent many boxes. The Association of American Publishers used to have a donation registry program and aided in connecting with those who wanted to support the project.
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