Inland Empire Libraries Disaster Response Network

IELDRN was established in 1987 by libraries in Riverside, San Bernardino, and eastern Los Angeles counties of California to provide mutual aid in response to any type of library disaster. To accomplish this goal IELDRN has held numerous workshops to encourage and assist libraries in writing disaster plans and training staff to pack out library materials. Another workshop dealt in depth with seismic bracing.

Unique features of IELDRN are a mutual aid agreement signed by all members and jointly owned disaster recovery supplies. The supplies, enough to pack-out 50,000 books, are stored in cargo containers in two separate locations in the region. They were purchased with LSCA funds granted by the State of California.

IELDRN passed its first test of mutual aid responsiveness in February 1990 when one of its member libraries sustained significant shelving damage during a 5.5 earthquake. The Steering Committee toured the site 42 hours after the quake (and during some significant after-shocks). Over the subsequent ten days IELDRN member libraries sent staff to assist in reshelving more than 300,000 books. The Los Angeles Preservation Network (LAPNet), with whom we have a close relationship, also assisted in the recovery.

IELDRN and LAPNet have recently co-sponsored a conference on the proposed California State Preservation Plan, a workshop on disaster response, and are working on developing a generic disaster plan on diskette. IELDRN will also continue its efforts to help libraries in the region prepare themselves for disaster.

IELDRN is administered by Sheryl Davis, Preservation Officer of the University of California, Riverside Library. This year's co-chairs are Dr. Linda Gunter, Claremont Colleges Libraries and Marilyn Crane, Loma Linda University Library.

Inquires may be sent to:

3/12/93