Libraries prepped to assist public during disasters

With the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season under way, librarians and information professionals are being equipped to position libraries as critical havens for individuals and communities during natural disasters.

This was facilitated during a Disaster Management Workshop - an initiative of the Jamaica Libraries and Information Network (JAMLIN), in collaboration with the National Library of Jamaica and the Jamaica Library Service (JLS). It was held on Monday at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Library on Tom Redcam Drive.

JAMLIN Development Manager, Jasheka Robinson, said libraries are not only centres of knowledge but also anchors of stability, connection and resilience in times of crisis.

"Whether it's helping someone apply for relief, charge their phone, or reading a book to a scared child, what we provide can be life-saving," Robinson stated.

"But for libraries to adequately fulfil these roles, we must plan deliberately... train to build partnerships, assess risks and strengthen protocols. Disaster management must be a part of how we think... serve and... lead," she added.

JLS Senior Director, Kishma Simpson, noted that since the start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, two hurricanes have already made landfall in Central America.

"So it is, therefore, timely that in this workshop, we are reminded of the critical role libraries and information institutions play, not only for learning and leisure but also in times of crisis. In the face of storms, displacement, and uncertainty, our libraries often become places of hope and recovery," Simpson said.

The workshop was led by former California police officer, Dr Roberto Rivera, who has decades of experience supporting disaster response through his voluntary work with the American Red Cross. He described the workshop as a "starting point" for developing protocols that will guide how libraries prepare for disasters, ensuring they remain places of safety and security for residents. Rivera pointed to the public library in Malvern, St Elizabeth, which served as a vital lifeline for the community in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl's devastation last July. Powered by solar energy, the library provided charging ports for electronic devices, a vital link for communicating with loved ones, and access to timely information. Much of St Elizabeth grappled with power outages, water scarcity, and a collapse in telecommunications.

Rivera presented on the theme 'Libraries and Information Units: Safe Harbours for Children, Families, and Communities', which was followed by interactive group discussions based on real-world scenarios, from which operational protocols could be developed. It was streamed to the 109 libraries islandwide, allowing librarians, information leaders, and shelter wardens across the country to benefit from the training.

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season runs until November 30.