Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Place: Online, register at https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgID=26143
Presenters: Brian Kendall, Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System
Emergencies can occur with or without warning. Therefore, it is imperative to be prepared for the unexpected. Through proper planning and exercising, libraries have the potential to become more resilient when facing potential threats.
Emergencies/disasters can be either natural or man-made resulting in severe or minimal impact. Therefore, taking an all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness will help mitigate and reduce impact of these events. In addition to ensuring a state of readiness for the organization, having a well-established emergency preparedness program can ease anxieties and feelings of uncertainty for staff and patrons. If the staff is properly trained on how to respond during times of emergency they will respond appropriately and be better prepared both at work and at home. Patrons visiting the libraries will be in better hands if the staff is knowledgeable of the organization’s emergency procedures.
In this presentation, emphasis will be on the importance of developing an emergency preparedness program and available resources, illustrating how to identify potential risks, and how to assess their impacts. Various plans such as emergency operation plans and continuity of operations plans will also be discussed. We will also look at mitigation strategies to reduce future impacts and strengthen security.