FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Mary Rogers, 202-233-0800 or [log in to unmask]
New Guide Helps Cultural Institutions Cope When Disaster
Strikes
Multimedia Field Guide to Emergency
Response published by Heritage Preservation
The Field
Guide to Emergency Response distills the expertise of conservation
professionals who have responded to disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the
recent flooding in the Northeast. Its interactive nature makes it unique. In
addition to an easy-to-follow handbook, a companion DVD illustrates salvage
techniques for typical problems like mud, mold, and soot. The DVD can be used
on-site in a laptop or vehicle player, as well as for preparedness training.
Also included are information panels that can be customized before disaster
strikes, as well as helpful checklists such as a Disaster Supplies Shopping
List organized by type of store.
“The Heritage Health Index
found that 80 percent of cultural institutions lack an emergency plan with
staff trained to carry it out,” said Heritage Preservation President
Lawrence Reger. “The Field Guide to
Emergency Response will help those institutions get through an
emergency and then better prepare for the next one.”
The National Endowment for the
Humanities funded the development of the Field Guide and the distribution of
5,000 free copies to nonprofit institutions in early August, before the peak of
hurricane season. NEH Chairman Bruce Cole noted that small institutions in
curators. Books,
records, manuscripts, art, and cultural artifacts remain at risk from
emergencies. For institutions with important collections, the Field Guide provides staff with
information to protect treasures under their care.”
The Field
Guide to Emergency Response follows Heritage Preservation’s
successful Emergency Response and Salvage
Wheel, which has become the gold standard for practical salvage
advice for collections. The handy slide chart is found in more than 40
countries and has been translated into six languages. Both publications were
produced in support of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, which
Heritage Preservation co-sponsors with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. To learn more, visit www.heritageemergency.org.
The Field Guide has already won fans
among early reviewers: "Every
museum administrator should have a Field Guide handy at all times," said
Jack Nokes, Executive Director, Texas Association of
Museums. Randy Silverman, Preservation Librarian,
The Field Guide is available for
$29.95; it can be purchased with the Wheel for a special price of $34.95. Both
are available at Heritage Preservation’s secure online Bookstore at www.heritagepreservation.org/catalog/
or by calling toll-free 888-388-6789.
For over 30 years, Heritage
Preservation has been the national, nonprofit advocate for the proper care of
all cultural heritage—in museums, libraries, homes, and town squares. For
more information, visit www.heritagepreservation.org.
The National Endowment
for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It
is the largest funder of humanities programs in the
###
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).