[Web4lib] Could library automation systems track evacuees?

[Rick Mason]

John,

Interesting idea, although I suspect the best place to turn would be the Open Source ILS software packages, such as Koha, phpMyLibrary, and the currently-being-developed Evergreen.

I suspect that one or more of these packages could be modified so that fields and relationships could be renamed and adapted as needed.  This wouldn't be a small project with any ILS, but I could see a project saving a lot of time and effort by adapting an existing program compared to creating an evacuation database from scratch.

Turning to the open source model would also help to ease fears of at least some (though not all) of the privacy issues involved, as the code could be reviewed, and the software tested, by anyone with concerns.

In addition, an "offline" mode could be set up to allow information entry without a live network/internet connection, then upload the information when the connection is restored.  Depending on what has been set up in the ILS for offline activities, this could also be an adaptation of existing code.

Thanks for sharing an interesting idea!

Rick Mason

>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: JOHN MARQUETTE <JOHNMA at ci.commerce.ca.us>
>  Subject: [Web4lib] Could library automation systems track evacuees?
>  Sent: 30 May '06 14:18
>  
>  The May 25, 2006 "Morning Edition" program on NPR said that a recent
>  disaster drill in New Orleans was canceled because nobody could figure
>  out who was in charge.  While libraries and librarians are not the
>  people to take over an orderly evacuation, I can't think of a group more
>  capable.  We have a powerful tool at hand to manage the movement of
>  evacuees - our automation systems.
>  
>  The NPR story said that for future evacuations, people would not be
>  housed at the SuperDome, just processed there.  They mentioned barcodes
>  and played the sound of a volunteer giving personal information and a
>  "bleeping" barcode reader. If this is a FEMA-designed product, I'm not
>  sure if I'd trust it.
>  
>  Libraries might be able to participate in identifying and tracking
>  evacuees by managing them as we do with our circulating items in a
>  multi-branch system.  An evacuee would arrive in the SuperDome
>  (Technical Services/Central Library), provide personal information
>  (patron module is included in the circulation system), be issued a
>  barcode as a bracelet or a necklace, and dispatched to a remote branch
>  via some form of public transit, mirroring our inter-branch book
>  movements.  (Joe checks in, is dispatched to Houston Central, and is
>  checked back in at Houston Central when his bus, train, or car arrives.)
>  
>  Once arrived at Houston Central, the evacuee could be "borrowed" by a
>  temporary housing facility ("Houston East Relocation Center #2").
>  Evacuees can then be accounted for using our standard library
>  circulation modules with some cross-matching on home addresses to find
>  family members.
>  
>  Use of a circulation system should NEVER look like it came out of a
>  library - we don't want to lose our hard-earned reputation for keeping
>  patrons' personal data private.  Perhaps it would be even better if
>  local disaster teams were trained to operate the system.  
>  
>  We professionals understand logistics on this magnitude, the technology
>  is proven, and it's available immediately.  Vendors might even offer
>  this as a free offer as an inducement to purchase.  
>  
>  I seem to recall reading that Sirsi/Dynix libraries had some of their
>  Gulf Coast systems moved to offsite locations, with the vendor acting as
>  an ASP.  As long as a center for displaced persons has power, an
>  alternate Internet connection (high-speed connections through Sprint,
>  Verizon, and Cingular might work shortly after a disaster) to reach the
>  ASP's site, and staff who have been trained to gather information, we
>  could make a tool familiar to us work to the greater good of the
>  community.
>  
>  John Marquette
>  
>  I speak for myself, not my employer.