Disaster procedures are in place at the National Library of Scotland to defend and protect the national collections.
The collections represent part of Scotland's written heritage. We recognise the need to plan to prevent disasters by eliminating or reducing risk.
Disaster control is a necessary component of any preservation policy and strategy. The Library defines a disaster as, 'an unscheduled event which damages or threatens to damage the collections'.
Minimising the damage
Disaster incidents continue to be suffered by libraries and archives, confirming the need to have preventive policies and countermeasures in place. Whatever the incident, water usually becomes involved. We are aware of this type of threat and the need to react swiftly to minimise damage to the collections.
Planning in Library buildings has taken account of the need to protect the collections, and work is continuing to reduce the risk.