Libraries as Partners for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Times of Crisis: Survey Design and Development

Libraries as Partners for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Times of Crisis is a preliminary investigation into partnerships between libraries and emergency response groups during crises. While libraries have proven themselves as providers during emergencies, little systematic work has been conducted to explore if library partnerships with emergency responders exist and the scope, nature, and role of libraries in these partnerships. This paper will explore the design and development of the project’s first step in gaining an initial understanding of library-community partnerships during emergencies: a survey of Illinois multi-type libraries. The survey’s creation was guided by key factors including focus on its target population, use of Participatory Design, and development of lines of inquiry which correspond to the frameworks of Targeted Universalism and Team Cognitive Work Analysis. While the survey has not yet been released at the time of writing this paper, the survey’s design and development described herein will address the paper’s research questions: How can a survey be developed for a large and diverse target population with multiple stakeholders, and how can such a survey’s results be relevant at an even larger scale? Anticipated results of the survey include discovery and promotion of the essential role that libraries take on during emergencies and with emergency response partners, and the increased safety and resiliency of diverse communities.