Libraries and Natural Disasters

Medical libraries as the heart of the nation's health care system are responsible, for appropriate and up to date information transmission into the arteries of society. So in the field of natural disaster management, such as earthquake or flood, have an important and significant role. Therefore in the face of such disasters, they can act powerfully. In this regard, this study, survived awareness of library managers and staffs with disaster management issues and 4 main stages of it in libraries. in this study, an analytical survey to investigate awareness of library managers and staffs with disaster management topics and 4 main stages of it in libraries will be discussed. The statistical population of research includes 130 librarians working in university libraries, affiliated to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education are based in Tehran. The data was collected through a researcher made questionnaire, consisting of 30 components with 5 item Likert range. Validity of questionnaire developed by the expert and reliability of questionnaire, was assessed by Cronbach's alpha, this value was equal to 0.81 which is indicative of good reliability. To analyze the research findings, statistical inference, such as binomial test, Friedman test and Chi- squared test, were used and the SPSS version 19, were applied. The manager's familiarity with the issues of crisis management, taking into consideration the strategic planning libraries with average 7/4 in too much effort to provide resources on disaster management for libraries with an average 51/2 was assessed as low. Firstly, the library building retrofitted with an average of 78/15 in the limit of very large, distressed and location maps prepared anti-crisis average of 83/10 is assessed as low. Secondly, set the data preparation rapport with other organizations (eg, fire and police), with a mean of 87/14 at the most, dissemination of general information pertaining to emergency conditions with an average of 07 / 11 is estimated as low. 's the third step is to prepare backup copies of important files in the library with an average of 73/16 in the limit of very large room called a crisis center with an average of 47/11 is assessed as low. Finally in the fourth stage of upgrading the professional competencies needed by librarians with a mean of 67/14 high level of community volunteers in rebuilding the library with an average of 64/9 minimal by respondents assessed. Libraries as information centers adopt distinct functions in modern society. Awareness of library managers and staffs with disaster management issues can help library to provide better services in the face of natural disaster. In the meantime use of information technology tools such as social networking, mail services, telemedicine with medical librarians and publish online images of natural disasters through the library, the library will be stronger.