Disaster Preparedness
Basic Information
Disasters are the worst enemy of preserving library collections as they can destroy a collection in a moment. The National Diet Library formulated the "National Diet Library Disaster Preparedness Guideline" in February 2010 as the basic principle of protecting library collections from disasters.
- In case of disaster … having a disaster plan (PDF: 207KB) (link to IFLA website)
IFLA/PAC Frequently Asked Questions prepared by the National Diet Library - Disaster preparedness for library materials (National Diet Library Newsletter No. 184, August 2012)
Report
- Ten years after the Great East Japan Earthquake: National Diet Library support for disaster-affected libraries (PDF: 3.81MB) (National Diet Library Newsletter No. 237, March 2021)
- Preparing for Mega-Quakes: Disaster Mitigation at the National Diet Library, Japan. (Presented at an IFLA/WLIC open session, August 27, 2019, Athens) (PDF: 648K) (link to IFLA website)
- Earthquake Preparedness for Libraries: Lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake (International Preservation News No.59-60, August 2013, pp.32-36) (PDF: 4.79MB) (link to IFLA website)
- Cooperation for salvaging materials damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Presented at the IFLA PAC Business meeting. August 11, 2012, Helsinki) (PDF: 35KB)
Event
- Report: The 30th NDL Forum on Preservation (National Diet Library Newsletter No. 230, June 2020)
- 22nd forum on preservation "Disaster preparedness in China, Korea, Australia and Japan: reports from National Libraries" (National Diet Library Newsletter No. 181, February 2012)
- (for details) 22th forum on preservation (WARP)
Manual
NOTICE: This is a simple manual for treating library materials in general based on the cases in the National Diet Library. When you treat rare books or severely damaged materials, we recommend you to consult expert in conservation treatment.
Useful Links
- IFLA Disaster Preparedness and Planning: a Brief Manual (PDF: 1MB)
International Preservation Issues (6) (link to IFLA website) - Recommendation for Cleaning and Restoring Damaged Photos and Albums (FUJIFILMS)