A Study On Disaster Management Initiatives And Planning In Academic Libraries Of North East India With Special |Reference To Assam: A Survey

Abstract

The first part of the paper explores the conceptual framework of the various aspects of the disaster, natural calamities and its impact on libraries and discusses the probable steps in overcoming the impact of disasters on library resources. A well thought disaster management plan needs to be outlined and suitable strategies should be planned for affective implementation in protecting the academic libraries of this North Eastern Region in general and Assam in particular. For the present study, the survey method of research has been adopted and data has been collected from the college and university librarians / LIS professionals using a self-designed questionnaire. The administration of questionnaire has also been ascertained by observation and conducting informal interview of few librarians / LIS professionals for their view and opinion towards awareness of various types of disasters and steps taken by them to overcome the problems for implementation of disaster management plan in academic libraries or libraries of higher educational institutions. For carrying out this study purposive sampling technique has been adopted. This study has been conducted for selected libraries and responses have been collected from March 2018 to July 2018. The data has been analysed and tabulated using MS-Excel and results were shown in tabular and graphical format. The study reveals that the awareness and preparedness to counter the problem of disasters arises out of sudden natural calamities is poor and there is need to sensitise common people and LIS professionals to make them aware with the probable disaster management techniques and measures to face the challenges and overcome the situation. At the end the paper, the authors put forwarde several suggestions and recommendations for implementation of the precautionary measure to plan and implement Disaster Management Strategies / Plan to save the academic libraries/ learning resource centres/ public libraries from the menace and havoc of regular heavy rains, floods, earthquake, fire and terrorist attack etc on the basis of suggestions given by the respondents and from the authors side.