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- Disasters and their aftermath have been part of the experience
of mankind throughout history. This new book provides a systematic
account of the implications of both natural and man-made disasters
for the provision of information in such times of extreme stress,
and the skills and systems which are needed in order to assure
the continuous flow of information, rather than the reliance
on ad hoc responses to tragedy.
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- A huge range of experience is reported here, from those deeply
involved in a number of recent disasters: the Polish floods of
1997; war and civil unrest in Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam;
famine and conflicts in Africa; coping with disaster in Sarajevo;
scientific information needs in the Chernobyl crisis; the Linkoping
Library fire; civil strife in Northern Ireland; the war in Eritrea;
and the case of the Palestinian occupied territories during the
Intifada and beyond. Practising librarians and others with detailed
knowledge describe their experience of providing information
services under the constraints of catastrophes such as these,
with the intention of pooling this experience to make it of as
much use as possible to those facing similar problems. The volume
also contains valuable accounts of the activities of organizations
such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa, and
the International Committee of the Blue Shield.
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- The book has been organized by The International Group of
The Library Association (UK). It offers illuminating reading
for those who are committed to the application of information
skills as part of the professional response to disaster.
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- ISBN 0 946568 77 8
- 1999
- £25.00/US$46.00
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