Disaster management practices and pandemic preparedness of academic libraries in Aklan: Basis for a library disaster management plan

Abstract

This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate disaster management practices, pandemic preparedness measures, and overall library conditions within academic libraries in Aklan, Philippines. Employing a mixed-method approach or quantitative- qualitative descriptive research method with a convergent-parallel design, thirty-seven librarians and library staff participated in quantitative data collection, while thirteen librarians took part in qualitative interviews. Data were gathered using a standardized validated questionnaire adapted from UNESCO, UNDRR, IFLA, ALA, and WHO guidelines and anchored to Superio et al.'s (2017) instrument. Ethical considerations were strictly observed during data gathering, with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis employed for data processing. The findings revealed variations in disaster management procedures and pandemic preparedness among libraries, emphasizing the need for stronger structures, increased training opportunities, and improved disaster management plans. Deficiencies in funding, legislative support, and technology integration were identified, highlighting the importance of strategic interventions. Overall, the study provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for enhancing disaster resilience and pandemic preparedness in academic libraries, laying the foundation for effective disaster management and public health emergency response strategies.