In the line of disaster: preparedness and effective response of academic libraries in Malaysia
PurposeThis study examines the preparedness and responsiveness of Malaysian academic librarians in handling disruptions in library services during a disaster.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative approach involved semi-structured interviews with decision-makers, chief librarians and library ma...
Saved in:
| Published in: | Library management Vol. 45; no. 8/9; pp. 506 - 526 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Bradford
Emerald Publishing Limited
09-08-2024
Emerald Group Publishing Limited |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | PurposeThis study examines the preparedness and responsiveness of Malaysian academic librarians in handling disruptions in library services during a disaster.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative approach involved semi-structured interviews with decision-makers, chief librarians and library managers from five selected public universities.FindingsThematic and qualitative data analysis produced several key themes based on (1) disaster preparedness involving policies, plans, asset protection, risk management, coordination of disaster management and preparative measures; and (2) disaster response involving strategies for information and communication access, community engagement, emergency response teams and procedures, and resource availability.Practical implicationsThe findings are expected to be useful for policymakers in formulating policies and guidelines for library disaster management plans.Social implicationsThe interruptions of academic library services during a disaster may result in the disruption of the information sources and social information networks of students, academics and researchers alike. Effective disaster management is also the library’s responsibility to protect collections that belong to society at large.Originality/valueThis is one of the first attempts in disaster management research to focus on the preparedness and responses of academic libraries in Malaysia in the face of disasters. Therefore, the results of this study can be used as a baseline for policymakers to prepare policies, guidelines and manuals for management in the event of a disaster. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0143-5124 1758-7921 |
| DOI: | 10.1108/LM-02-2024-0021 |