HPL Mission Critical: Preservation Post Harvey
Houston Public Library, Texas
Innovation Synopsis
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Houston Public Library staff assisted with salvage and remediation efforts to flood-damaged records belonging to the city. HPL staff were also available to provide guidance and resources to customers regarding the salvage, assessment, treatment and long-term preservation of flood-damaged personal property.
Challenge/Opportunity
City of Houston maintenance staff, already stretched thin with city-wide flood damage, discovered important city documents in the flooded basement of City Hall; they called upon the library for advice and guidance. HPL librarians and archivists jumped into action to act as first responders for the irreplaceable city records dating back to Houston’s founding. As Houstonians started going back into their homes, they faced flood damaged memorabilia and needed somewhere to turn for advice.
Key Elements of Innovation
HPL leveraged the expertise of staff and preservation contacts in the community to position themselves as experts on recovery and preservation of flood damaged memorabilia. HPL established an open dialogue with those affected by Harvey as well as partners in the recovery effort to maximize options for those who contacted HPL staff for advice. HPL desired to step in and maximize their expertise so others in the city could focus on critical recovery decisions.
Achieved Outcomes
HPL helped salvage and stabilize 400 feet of historical Houston City Council ledgers and 700 linear feet of irreplaceable records from flooded City Hall, and provided guidance to the community in recovering cherished family photographs and memorabilia. The staff’s rapid and agile response has positioned HPL as a leader in the development of a disaster plan for city records, partner in community digitization projects and authority on emergency stabilization of historical documents and safety protocols.