Hurricane Gustav's pounding of the Gulf Coast region this week resurrected for many the sad memories of damage inflicted on libraries, schools, and cultural institutions by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In commemoration of the third anniversary of Katrina, and in light of the current hurricane season, the Library of Congress has launched a "Learning from Katrina" website to provide "insight for better responses to record and artifact damage by hurricanes."
Wisconsin's libraries and their collections, though not in danger from the ravages of hurricanes, can benefit from much of the information on emergency preparedness and disaster recovery featured on this Library of Congress site. Pertinent publications, Web links, and steps to take to salvage materials damaged by fire, flood, mud, or tornadoes are just some of the helpful tips included on this site.