ABSTRACT
By the mid 1990s, a significant amount of printed literature about, and guidance on, disaster planning in libraries and archives was available (see Matthews, 1994; Matthews, 1995; Feather, Eden and Matthews, 1996: 8-10). In 1995-96, a major review (funded by the then British Library Research and Development Department) of disaster management practice in the UK was undertaken and guidelines for library managers accompanied publication of its report (Matthews and Eden, 1996a). The now accepted use of the term disaster management rather than disaster planning in the UK acknowledges the fact that:
In the years since the mid 1990s, while proponents of disaster management have continued to encourage its acceptance and implementation as an integral part of library and archival management, they have also had to incorporate within this the implications and impact of new developments within libraries and archives and the society in which they operate. These include the great changes brought about by the application of information and communication technologies with vast amounts of information now stored and disseminated electronically on a global basis. The digital environment at work (and at home) has developed at considerable pace over the last few years and this has brought about both benefits and concerns for those charged with disaster management in libraries and archives. The World Wide Web has made available an increasing amount of guidance and exchange of experience and expertise on disaster management via the internet. This, in keeping with professional developments, is not solely library or archive based, but has a broader perspective encompassing the whole cultural heritage sector including for example, museums and galleries as well.
