A recent survey of emergency planning in UK archives, libraries and museums found that 61 per cent of the museums that responded had a written emergency plan, a further 25 per cent had one in preparation and 97 per cent said they had someone responsible for emergency planning.
The survey was carried out in 2005 and was part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project, Safeguarding Heritage at Risk. Its findings are positive, but there is no room for complacency - 28 per cent of museums said they had experienced a disaster in the past five years. Even those with established procedures reported difficulties in sustaining planning activities.
Collaborative networks have been set up elsewhere in the world where region-wide threats are prevalent. These networks share information, resources and expertise, and provide support in the event of an incident.
The East Midlands Museums Services Regional Emergencies and Disaster Support Service, was created in the early 1990s and similar networks have sprung up more recently. Such local and regional emergency planning initiatives should be further encouraged and supported by government within a nationally coordinated framework.
There needs to be a sharper, strategic and more coordinated approach that builds on and fosters local and regional partnerships. This must also include greater work with those outside the cultural heritage sector. Dialogue, cooperation and sharing expertise are vital to effective emergency preparedness.
Graham Matthews is a professor of information management at Loughborough University
The survey was carried out in 2005 and was part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project, Safeguarding Heritage at Risk. Its findings are positive, but there is no room for complacency - 28 per cent of museums said they had experienced a disaster in the past five years. Even those with established procedures reported difficulties in sustaining planning activities.
Collaborative networks have been set up elsewhere in the world where region-wide threats are prevalent. These networks share information, resources and expertise, and provide support in the event of an incident.
The East Midlands Museums Services Regional Emergencies and Disaster Support Service, was created in the early 1990s and similar networks have sprung up more recently. Such local and regional emergency planning initiatives should be further encouraged and supported by government within a nationally coordinated framework.
There needs to be a sharper, strategic and more coordinated approach that builds on and fosters local and regional partnerships. This must also include greater work with those outside the cultural heritage sector. Dialogue, cooperation and sharing expertise are vital to effective emergency preparedness.
Graham Matthews is a professor of information management at Loughborough University
