SOLINET HURRICANE PROGRAM
Friends and Colleagues:
With this notice I would like to update you on SOLINET's support of
libraries and cultural institutions in response to Hurricane
Katrina. Even as the humanitarian efforts continue, recovery efforts
are underway in some libraries and recovery planning has started for
others. Other institutions do not yet know about the status of their
facilities and collections, and the assistance they will require is
unknown. In addition, libraries across the region are gearing up to
provide service for evacuees, including internet access, books, and
library services for those in shelters. As a regional cooperative
with long standing programs in preservation and disaster recovery,
SOLINET has been reaching out with our members and partners to serve
those libraries which have suffered damage. We would appreciate your
assistance in publicizing the availability of the following
information resources and assistance programs for libraries and
cultural institutions in the hurricane zone. Also, please let other
institutions know that they can support stricken libraries by using
the clearinghouse features listed below. These services are not
limited to SOLINET members.
Information Consulting and Referral
SOLINET's Preservation Services Department is providing telephone,
email, and web based support for impacted libraries on a wide range
of topics, including collection stabilization, drying procedures for
historic buildings, recovery of damaged materials, referrals to
recovery services, and advice on setting response priorities. Call
Tina Mason, Manager of Preservation at (800) 999-8558, email at
tmason(a)solinet.net, or check web based resources at
www.solinet.net by following the "Katrina response" and
"Preservation" links. These resources include downloadable
publications on such topics as drying wet materials and mold
mitigation. The site also includes a database of vendors who provide
supplies, equipment, and services which are useful in recovery activities.
SOLINET's preservation staff can assist with consultation and
advice. In addition, we have identified expert volunteers to assist
with disaster recovery efforts. These volunteers have a wide variety
of expertise which we will match with each institution's needs.
Several grants programs are being created or extended for affected
libraries and cultural institutions. As this information becomes
available, SOLINET will use our extensive grants experience to
provide consulting and assistance for those developing applications.
Training and On Site Assistance
SOLINET is working with state libraries and archives in the hurricane
zone to schedule training to prepare library and cultural institution
staff and volunteers to assist in materials recovery. These
arrangements will be finalized and publicized shortly.
We are gathering information about the status of institutions in need
of onsite assistance and will respond as needs become clear.
SOLINET's Hurricane Katrina web site is in the final stages of
completion and will be made available Monday. It will include:
Recovery Resources: information about recovery resources, contact
information for experts in various subjects, and links to other useful
sites.
Library Needs: a clearinghouse for institutions to indicate what
resources they need, such as computers, materials, volunteers, s and
for institutions to indicate what resources they can provide.
Job Bank: a clearinghouse for library and cultural institution staff
left without employment, either temporarily or permanently, and
institutions offering short term or permanent employment opportunities.
Grants: information about grant opportunities for impacted
institutions and links to related sites. (under development)
Fund Raising: links to the various fund raising efforts for
libraries and cultural institutions.
Status Reports: a summary of the status of libraries in the hurricane
zone. (under development)
Information will be added to this site as it becomes available.
Visit this site at:
www.solinet.net and follow the "Katrina Response"
link.
SOLINET communicates regularly with other regional and national
organizations to share our plans and knowledge and to learn about the
relief and recovery efforts underway by these groups. We're
coordinating our support and activities with such organizations as
Heritage Preservation, the Regional Alliance for Preservation,
AMIGOS, ASERL, the HBCU Library Alliance, and FEMA. Links the
resources available through these other organizations are available
at the website above.
SOLINET is working to be responsive to the needs of impacted
libraries. This includes:
negotiating subscription credits from database vendor partners for
libraries which will be closed for an extended time working with OCLC
for recreation of libraries' bibliographic databases if lost
managing libraries' ILL supplier/nonsupplier status. We are working
with additional vendor partners on additional activities. These will
be announced on the "Katrina Response" web site as they are finalized.
Please call the SOLINET Help Desk at (800) 999-8558 or email to
helpdesk(a)solinet.net for further information.
The scope and impact of Hurricane Katrina has been horrific. Our
hearts and thoughts are with the people along the Gulf Coast. Please
join us in working to help libraries and cultural institutions on the
road to recovery.
Kate Nevins, Executive Director, SOLINET, 1438 W. Peachtree St. #200,
Atlanta, GA 30309
(800) 999-8558 (404) 892-7879 (fax) knevins(a)solinet.net
www.solinet.net