What is the role of public libraries when it comes to community disaster response? Upcoming conference attendees will soon find out. On April 27th from 9:00am-1:00pm, over 70 community emergency management staff and public library directors from across the state will converge for the conference, Community Disaster Response: the Role of Public Libraries, at the Richland County Public Library, in downtown Columbia.
The role of libraries in emergency preparedness planning, response, and recovery is often overlooked by first responders. This conference will be a community forum for public library leaders and local emergency management personnel. Participants will learn about best practices in other states and participate in dialogue between library leaders and first responders about the potential role of libraries in disaster response.
Speakers will include Rebecca Hamilton, State Librarian, State Library of Louisiana; Sam Hodge, Emergency Manager, Georgetown County Emergency Management; Dwight McInvaill, Director, Georgetown County Library; Joe Ryan, Project Manager, Hurricane/Disaster Preparedness and Response by Utilizing Florida's Public Libraries Project.
Conference sponsors include the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina State Library, Richland County Public Library, and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library. The conference is being funded by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeastern/Atlantic Region.
For conference agenda, speaker information, and more, please visit http://uscm.med.sc.edu/disaster.html.
