Normal Service

Service Role

The community counts on normal library service before and after the storm be it book, DVD or Internet use, reference or family programming. Normal service provides hope, re-establishes government presence, reduces stress, returns normalcy, offers recreation and distraction.

Best practices may include:

What is Special about Normal

• Welcoming staff: sets the tone for what is civil in uncivil times. Provides some solace for those whose homes were damaged.
• Family programs: helps children cope and gives parents relief. How about a Fun Day on the lawn?
• Electricity: means a place to charge cell phones, laptops, wheelchairs;
• Library materials: provide recreation and distraction in a stressful period; and
• Internet: provides contact lifeline to family and friends, complete forms, and a source of information.

New Ideas

• Go to new places: story hours, family programming, mobile libraries at shelters;
• Materials loan becomes materials gift: Gift books to children and adult evacuees and visiting responders;
• When things return to normal: Honor special local responders with books donated in their name at a special event;
• Target special groups: temporarily homeless (housing information exchange); evacuees (programs at local hotels); temporarily jobless (job bank, file for unemployment); hungry (file for food stamps);
• Special services: Filling out FEMA forms; Contacting loved ones; Comforting victims;
• Special materials: Books that help children cope.
  • St. Romain, Rose Anne. (2008). Evacuee children and Louisiana public libraries. Baton Rouge, LA: Office of the State Library, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Office of the Lt. Governor of Louisiana. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from http://www.state.lib.la.us
  • American Library Association. Association for Library Service to Children. Books to help children deal with hurricane disasters. Retrieve March 19, 2009 from http://www.hcpl.net/kidsite/kidsread/hurricane.htm
  • Temporarily homeless (housing information exchange); evacuees (programs at local hotels); temporarily jobless (job bank, file for unemployment); hungry (file for food stamps);
  • National Association of School Psychologists. Crisis response resources.
    • En español - Crisis de recursos

Flexible Policies

• Public libraries flexibly adjust such policies as ID requirements and proof
  • Alabama Public Library Service Disaster Preparedness Committee. (n.d.). Is your library ready? A guide to disaster preparedness and supporting our communities for Alabama’s public libraries [Electronic resource]. Montgomery, AL: Alabama Public Library Service. Retrieved March 9, 2009, from http://www.ccpls.com/disaster/index.html
  • Miami-Dade Public Library System. (2007). Emergency plan: Emergencies policies and procedures section "J." Miami, FL: Miami-Dade Public Library System
  • Myrick, John Paul. (2005). [Cullman County (AL) Public Library) Services for storm victims (Administrative Memorandum # 2005-03).
  • North Suburban (IL) Library System. (2006). Fast Facts #558 - Library cards for temporary residents.
• Fees & fines, borrowing periods in the face of disaster or evacuee use;

Responder Family Day Care

Lesson 101:

• Want the lights back on and the bathrooms working in a hurry after a hurricane?
• Find ways to be indispensable to those responding to disaster.
• See Houston Public Library Example:
  • A Temporary Emergency Day Care
  • Enrollment Form

Other Best Practices

• Offer programs where needed outside library
• Advertise: What Hurricane services can residents expect from their public libraries?
• Normal Best Service Best Resources