AIC's 44th Annual Meeting

Emergency preparedness is a critical part of collections stewardship, but the most challenging part can be getting started. Too often, cultural institutions plan in reaction to a disaster. Preservation professionals are often contacted to recover collections after a disaster, rather than serving as proactive institutional partners in planning. Preservation professionals must learn to be persuasive advocates to initiate and sustain an emergency preparedness effort as part of our commitment to preventive conservation. Garnering an administrative mandate can often be the most difficult task in emergency planning. This session offers the preservation professional tools for gaining a seat at the planning table and transforming good intentions into a robust emergency management program. The discussion will include developing and communicating your vision for an institutional program, identifying and building relationships with allies, crafting influence strategies, and educating administration about the need for a comprehensive plan. Resources that help foster a culture of preparedness and collect data to support your cause will be highlighted. The audience will learn to develop strategies to overcome institutional hurdles to preparedness and advocate for an ongoing planning budget. Maintaining the momentum is crucial. Ideas for keeping both administration and staff invested in supporting the emergency management program will be discussed.