Libraries as Partners for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Times of Crisis

Libraries as Partners for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Times of Crisis

Presentation at the 2025 CALA Canada Annual Conference

Ruan, Lian; Habing, Kelda

Chinese American Librarians Association

2025-05-05

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

application/pdf

eng

Text; Presentation

"Libraries as Partners for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Times of Crisis" is a two-year grant project funded via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It investigates multi-type libraries’ roles during community-wide crises (e.g. severe weather, wildfires, public health emergencies), and especially their role as partners to emergency response organizations such as the fire service, emergency medical services, and others. At the CALA Canada Chapter 2024 conference, members of the Libraries as Partners team introduced the project and its goals to attendees. Since then, the project has completed a survey of Illinois libraries and two Community Engagement Roundtable discussions to gain a deeper understanding of libraries’ partnerships during emergencies. At the 2025 conference, an update will be provided on the survey and roundtable results, as well as best practices for library emergency response partnerships and directions for future research.