Library Disaster Manual: Priority Recovery Checklist

1st Priority:

• Valuable/Permanent papers
• Irreplaceable items:  Rare books, etc.
• Artwork
• Cannot get wet:  pre-1950 photographs, clay-coated paper
• Objects, etc.

2nd Priority

• Expensive to replace/repair:  Rare books/manuscripts
• Essential to functions of institution, library or information center
• Core collection
• Masters of microfilm (should be stored off-site)

3rd Priority

• Supplements of the core collection
• Heavily requested items
• Government documents
• Indexes, major reference tools, CD-ROM indexes

4th Priority

• Standing orders/annual replacements and updates
• Nice to have but not essential to mission of institution items
• Duplicate microfilm/microfiche – otherwise replace
• Items duplicated by microfilm/microfiche:  Periodicals, government documents

5th Priority

• Disposable items
• Items replaceable with other formats

Other Important Items

• Computer files (should be backed up daily, at least)
• Rolodex/contacts and colleagues’ addresses
• List of vendors and suppliers
• Inventory (should be stored off-site with copies on diskette)
• Artwork inventory (should be stored off-site, plus pictures, if possible, to prove origin)