This online course may be of interest to archivists also. Iona McCraith,
AAO Preservation Consultant
MS205/6: Disaster Plan Research and Writing
Instructor: Terri Schindel
Price: $475
Dates: Sep. 7 through Oct. 29, 2010
Location: Online at <URL:http://www.museumclasses.org>
Taught by Terri Schindel:
Every museum needs to be prepared for fires, floods, chemical
spills, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters. But surveys show
80 percent lack trained staff, emergency-preparedness plans for
their collections, or both. Disaster Plan Research and Writing
begins with the creation of disaster-preparedness teams, the
importance of ongoing planning, employee safety, board participation
and insurance. Participants will learn everything they need to draft
their own disaster-preparedness plans. They also will be required to
incorporate colleagues in team-building exercises.
A written disaster-preparedness plan is not only a good idea, it's
also a requirement for accreditation. In the second half of the
course, instructor Terri Schindel reviews and provides input as
participants write plans that outline the procedures to follow in
various emergencies. The completed plan prepares museums physically
and mentally to handle emergencies that can harm vulnerable and
irreplaceable collections. You will have a completed institutional
disaster-preparedness and response plan at the end of the course.
Course Outline:
Introduction to Disaster Planning
Disaster Team
Risk Assessment and Management
Health and Safety
Insurance
Documentation
Prioritizing Collections
Writing the Disaster Preparedness Plan
Emergency Procedures
Disaster Response
Emergency Procedures - Recovery
Emergency Procedures - Salvage
Emergency Procedures - Salvage Techniques and Guidelines
Emergency supplies and location of regional resources
Appendices: What to put in them
Next steps: planning drills and further resources
Conclusion
Logistics: Participants in Disaster Plan Research and Writing work
at their own pace. Instructor Terri Schindel is available at
scheduled times for email support. Opportunities for interaction
include forums and scheduled online chats. Each section includes a
written assignment that becomes support material for drafting an
actual disaster preparedness plan. Materials include readings,
lecture notes, links to relevant web sites and handouts. The course
is limited to 20 participants.
Required Textbook: Disaster Planning I uses the required textbook
Steal This Handbook! A Template for Creating a Museum's Emergency
Preparedness Plan, which is available for purchase at
<URL:http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html>
MS205/6: Disaster Plan Research and Writing lasts eight weeks. To
reserve a spot in the course, please pay at
<URL:http://www.collectioncare.org/tas/tas.html> If you have trouble
please contact Helen Alten at helen [at] collectioncare__org
The Instructor:
Terri Schindel, graduated from the Courtauld Art Institute,
University of London with a concentration in textile
conservation. Since 1988 she has taught collections care and
preventive conservation to museum staff. She has assisted
museums in writing disaster plans for more than a decade and
helped develop national standards for disaster-preparedness
materials. Ms. Schindel specializes in collection care and
preventive conservation and works regularly with small, rural
and tribal museums. She is familiar with the many challenges and
lack of resources facing these institutions. Ms. Schindel is
committed to maintaining the uniqueness of each museum while
ensuring that they serve as a resource for future generations.
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