Community Analysis

The Community Analysis portion of this project provided the researcher an opportunity to collect people-centered feedback about the agency’s offerings related to the specific aspects of diversity and inclusion related to rural life in Western North Carolina. The following analysis includes information feedback from internal system-centric people (library staff at Polk County Public Libraries), external system-centric people (leaders from surrounding library systems and local organizations), user-centric people (community members), and from the researcher's own experiences (participant-researcher/observations).

Columbus Library, the main location of the Polk County Public Libraries

System-Centric Feedback

Seeking system-centric feedback allowed the researcher to interview librarians and library staff at the Polk County Public Libraries in order to learn from their experiences working on the front lines at the library. They served the community during natural disasters like Hurricane Helene 2024, two nationally recognized wildfires in early 2025, and crises like the COVID-19 pandemic in 20210. Two librarians and one library assistant shared their thoughts for this project in semi-structured interviews.

Interview Responses:

Librarian 1

Please describe how you (personally) and your community (broadly) have been affected by natural disasters and crises.

Most recently, we were hit by Hurricane Helene and then by serious wildfires. I've heard that per capita, Polk County actually was the worst hit of any of the counties affected by Helene. The total lack of communications and the near total devastation of roads meant it was weeks before people could even navigate the county safely to begin recovery. We still have roads that haven't been repaired since the mudslides of 2018, which now seem almost minor compared to the damage from Helene. Then we had at least four major wildfires over the last couple of months which burned collectively more than 8,000 acres. While we were fortunate that much of this was in relatively uninhabited areas, they still burned several structures, including homes, and forced evacuations of people who were barely beginning to get back on their feet from Helene. Many of us who are active in disaster relief and community service have been so busy helping those who were hit the hardest that we haven't been able to address our own damages and needs.

In your opinion, what is the library’s responsibility to the community and role during times of natural disasters and crisis?

As the most trusted branch of county government, the library plays a critical role in helping to connect people with those departments who are helping with disaster relief. As a communications center, the library must provide up to date, trustworthy information and help with controlling the spread of rumors and misinformation. As a community hub, the library provides a much needed place for people to come for shelter and social connection. The number of people who came through the library after Helene simply to talk to staff and have someone listen to their stories was overwhelming.

How did your library respond to events like COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires?

The Polk County Public Libraries were only closed for a few weeks during Covid. The rest of the time we were able to offer curbside service and we took many steps to meet sanitation requirements so that we could open fully to the public as soon as restrictions began to lift. We did take the opportunity during the time we were closed to make some positive building improvements in the way the spaces were arranged and such to make it better for patrons and staff when we re-opened. The Columbus Library was also the first county department to re-open after Helene and we provided desperately needed internet service to people who were unable to get any communication ability at home. People were able to come to us to charge their devices, contact family and friends to let them know they were okay, and as stated above, to just be able to talk to someone. We were able to work with FEMA and other resources to provide information and relief assistance. Library staff volunteered prior to re-opening at county disaster facilities and after re-opening with paperwork and computer work to help with the disaster. Since our Saluda Library was closed by Helene, staff that would normally have been at Saluda were able to work at Columbus and help stretch our resources to do more there. With the wildfires, we provided information and a place for people to come and work and get resources if they had to evacuate or otherwise couldn't work from home due to communication problems.

As a library staff member, what was your role during the most recent of COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires? Did your position or responsibilities change?

My job is constantly shifting to meet the demands of the time. In addition to technical services and collection management, I am the go-to IT person for the libraries and I track the budget internally to help the leadership team with making financial decisions. During Covid, I and other staff were able to help the county's health department with answering messages and making phone calls to do with questions about the vaccine. I was on the leadership team that made decisions about how to offer curbside service and I worked with the director to make better outdoor wifi available. During Helene, I volunteered at the local disaster relief centers the county set up and then was onsite with the director even before the library opened to make sure the IT was up and running so we could open ahead of other county departments and start getting people some much needed communication. During the wildfires, I kept abreast of the location of the fires and tried to help answer questions about them, as well as making sure computers and wifi remained stable. Outside the library, I also am the treasurer for the Share Thy Bread Food Pantry so I was involved somewhat with the disaster relief work they were doing as well.

After reflecting on these events and your library’s response, share your thoughts and ideas on how the libraries may continue or better assist their communities in the future?
I think the best thing libraries can do for their communities is to be prepared themselves. We did pretty well, but we didn't really have a specific disaster plan in place and when communications broke down during Helene, it was probably the hardest thing we had gone through because we didn't know what to do or where to go. Some things you'll never be able to prepare for, but if you have a basic plan in place that covers the main needs (communication, hierarchy of responsibility, etc) you will be able to handle most things.

For the purposes of this research, I am proposing the creation of a library “go bag” so that libraries may anticipate and mobilize to assist the community when these events inevitably occur in the future. From your experience, what are a few items that you would recommend for this preparation? Why?

I guess I'd need clarification on what you mean by a "go bag" -- do you mean physical items that the library should have on hand or just like I said above, a plan so you know who's responsible for what and where to obtain things from? I don't think it's really the library's place to provide physical items like food and water, but I do think that libraries should have a plan. For example, you should know who is the liaison to the county, who will be the person contacting EMS or the fire marshal, when it's appropriate for someone else to, and who staff answer to if they can't reach their supervisor. You should know where you're going to get marketing and information materials from and/or who will vet materials when they come in to be sure you're sharing correct information with patrons. And as far as physical items, you should definitely have technologies that will work as far as possible and have plans for what to do when they don't. For example, I'm planning to make sure I get my ham radio working so I don't have to depend on cell phones and internet next time and I'll need to make sure I know what frequencies to check in order to get news from county emergency services.

Librarian 2

Please describe how you (personally) and your community (broadly) have been affected by natural disasters and crises.

We have been bombarded over the last six months by natural disasters not seen in my lifetime. First, Hurricane Helene hit the WNC area in September 2024 and did damage like never before. Massive flooding and thousands of trees down. I was personally affected by this as two trees uprooted in my backyard, hitting my fence and a neighbor's home. Our basement also flooded, and my stepdaughter had to move out as that's where she was living. We had to rip up our floors and remove the door. We are still working to get everything fixed as it takes a lot of time and money, and FEMA's response has been slow. Just this month, the counties where I live and work were affected again by two large wildfires. This is where I grew up, and I have never seen or heard of anything like it here in WNC. Just like hurricanes are only supposed to affect the coast, wildfires are much more common in California. My stepbrother and a close friend had to evacuate their homes. My brother, who is a firefighter, was working around the clock. An artist who was supposed to display her artwork at the library lost her house and all of her belongings. It has been a difficult time here in WNC and Polk County recently.

In your opinion, what is the library’s responsibility to the community and role during times of natural disasters and crisis?

Once it is safe to do so, I think it is important for the library to be a refuge for people - a place where people can come together and see and talk to others in their community, a safe place to hang out with electricity/Wi-Fi/AC and heat, and a place to escape/get recreational materials in the form of books and other materials. It is also important to provide people with educational and ACCURATE information about the disasters. There was a lot of "fake news" and panic, with the recent wildfires particularly.

How did your library respond to events like COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires?

During COVID-19, we remained closed to the public until the end of May 2020 (around 2 months). During most of that time, we offered curbside pickup services, and continued to offer that for awhile after we reopened. We also pivoted to digital programming, offering online storytimes, craft projects, and Facebook Live trivia. We also started giving out take home craft kits and spices. We distributed supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer, and COVID tests. We closed for around a week after Helene due to the power outage. When we reopened, we offered lots of information about available assistance, and also some food supplies that were donated. We did not close during the fires, but served as a refuge for those who needed it. We also shared accurate information on our website and social media. Also during COVID and after Helene, some staff members worked in different capacities around the county, such as working with the health department during COVID and at supply distribution centers after Helene.

As a library staff member, what was your role during the most recent of COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires? Did your position or responsibilities change?

I am the Youth Services Librarian. My role drastically changed during the year or so after COVID. As described above, we had to pivot from in-person programs to having everything be digital or take home kits. Programming was completely revamped. I very quickly had to become comfortable on camera, and learn about video editing software etc. After Helene, we did cancel programs for a few weeks but did not offer digital/take home options during that time. I was busy scheduling programs and dealing with meeting room bookings as FEMA used our meeting room. I am also the marketing manager so during all of these times, I had to make sure to post accurate and timely information on social media and our website.

After reflecting on these events and your library’s response, share your thoughts and ideas on how the libraries may continue or better assist their communities in the future?
First off, my biggest takeaway from these disasters is that library staff are part of the community. Their safety should be respected. They should not be forced to come into work or take vacation time when dealing with a disaster. If they are able to come in to assist the community or open the library during a disaster, it should be on a non-mandatory basis and they should be compensated in addition to their regular pay. I will say our county did that after Helene (although it was not clear at the time that "volunteers" would be given anything), which was a relief. I think we did an amazing job of pivoting to serve our community after COVID with curbside pickup and digital/take home programming. We also do our best and in my opinion go above and beyond to assist our community.

For the purposes of this research, I am proposing the creation of a library “go bag” so that libraries may anticipate and mobilize to assist the community when these events inevitably occur in the future. From your experience, what are a few items that you would recommend for this preparation? Why?

Generator, Wi-Fi hotspots, Laptops, Bottled water, MREs, Solar and battery powered charging stations (and batteries)

Library Assistant

Please describe how you (personally) and your community (broadly) have been affected by natural disasters and crises.

When THE hurricane (Helene, September 2024) hit, I assumed that the 125 foot tree that crushed our cars, garage, and roof was a singular epic event in OUR lives. I didn't see the devastation beyond the borders of our yard until an hour later when we walked, dazed, around our neighborhood to see similar destruction. Ego-centrism is a normal reaction, I suppose, until you see the dismay and defeat in the eyes of others. In the days that followed, as more images came in from around Western North Carolina, our singular felled tree became vividly trivial compared to the apocalyptic-level of displacement, death and utter destruction of entire portions (even towns) of the Appalachians. "The Storm of the Century" wiped away places I had visited and loved in the 30+ years I have lived here. We were without power for ten days and cellular phone service for two weeks. We drove countless hours to find gas, food, cell service, wifi, and fresh water. I learned the value (pun intended) of keeping cash on hand, as many newly-opened businesses were unable to process debit or credit cards. (To this day, I stash cash and a case of water in my car's trunk.) We are so very blessed (and I never use that word lightly) to have a gas range for cooking and boiling water. Then something magical happened: we finally and truly met our neighbors. Mere pleasantries in the past became meaningful conversations and much-needed commiserating. We all had something to offer. Joy had food that would spoil soon, so we used the gas range to cook meals for anyone/everyone who wanted to come by. I have a French press and became the local coffee shop. Steve and Barbara were remodeling their home and had a wide array of very useful hand tools to clear smaller debris. Deborah is a P.A. and did wellness checks on those living alone and/or the elderly. Craig grilled meals every afternoon and evening, leading to impromptu block parties. No one kept score of what each offered; hugs and handshakes were the language of authentic gratitude.

The WNC wildfires just a few months later (sadly) fit the adage: "adding insult to injury." The trees, washed away months earlier, had become perfectly stacked tinder and robust logs for rapidly spreading fires. We obsessively checked for updates on locations, evacuations, and containment levels.

At the risk of sounding overly-dramatic, the hurricane and wildfires of 2024/2025 are directly responsible for PTSD. People jokingly ask, "what's next?" but at its core it's not a joke nor is it a question: it's a plea to the Earth for a reprieve.

In your opinion, what is the library’s responsibility to the community and role during times of natural disasters and crisis?

Our story mirrors that of many others: disbelief-->dismay-->depression-->redemption. Our neighborhood was a microcosm of many places in WNC.
News outlets moved beyond what had happened to what could help. No one commanded or demanded acts of service. No one kept score of which organization or group helped "more." And with few exceptions, political/social/economic distinctions were irrelevant.

As an employee of the Columbus library, I saw first hand the same progression of reactions. When we re-opened, patrons (and non-patrons) flocked to the Safe Space we provided. FEMA set up a semi-permanent presence in our Community Room. The director made sure chairs were moved to the hallway to allow those waiting to rest more comfortably. The cold and hot water dispenser (meant for refilling personal containers) was re-equipped (daily) with disposable cups. A patron, I believe, left boxes of individually sealed tea bags. People donated basic food items and pantry staples to the tables in the foyer. People left make-shift signs offering free assistance of varying types.

And then something magical happened: the traditional hushed tones of the library became a symphony of commiseration and camaraderie. Everyone had a story to tell and an audience willing to listen. The most striking thing I noticed was the willingness to share SPACE. Normally, people seek an empty table and spread out their things, silently claiming more space than they need. That changed during the post-hurricane weeks. People gravitated to occupied tables to deliberately share space and resources (outlets, USB ports, comfortable chairs, etc.) I rarely saw someone with headphones in their ears to discourage conversation. Quite the opposite occurred: the patrons became a community.

How did your library respond to events like COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires?

As a library staff member, what was your role during the most recent of COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires? Did your position or responsibilities change?

For our part, the library staff (even more than before) was the conduit of information and technological assistance. FEMA paperwork often had to be copied and faxed. Anyone working on the floor or at a desk helped copy and/or fax literally hundreds of pages over the course of 2 months in addition to: helping patrons access a myriad of websites, personal records, government agencies, banking accounts, personal and professional email, tree removal and general contractors, etc. etc etc. They were so patient, so truly GRATEFUL (even to the point of tears) for the help.
I saw people weep from just releasing stress and regaining some semblance of control. I love working here, but I've never loved it more than those post-Helene months. I felt a great sense of purpose and I know I'm not the only staff member to feel that way.
Another vivid memory: visitors and patrons who brought their pets and checked out a book "for the first time in years" (their words.)

Our circulation surely tripled as people detoxed from the contrived images on a screen to the imaginative ones on a sheet of paper. Libraries gained greater appreciation and relevancy.

After reflecting on these events and your library’s response, share your thoughts and ideas on how the libraries may continue or better assist their communities in the future? - waiting for response

For the purposes of this research, I am proposing the creation of a library “go bag” so that libraries may anticipate and mobilize to assist the community when these events inevitably occur in the future. From your experience, what are a few items that you would recommend for this preparation? Why? - waiting for response

The Meeting Place, Polk County's Senior Services Center

External System-Centric Feedback

Thoughts from external system-centric feedback were also sought out by the researcher. She invited librarians from other counties as well a leader from the local Senior Center to respond. Their stories speak to how other county organizations and librarians from surrounding counties were involved. Two librarians and local organization leader shared their experiences.

Interview Responses:

Librarian 1

Please describe how you (personally) and your community (broadly) have been affected by natural disasters and crises.

Rutherford County is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene, especially in the northwestern region near Lake Lure, and it may take several more years before a complete sense of normalcy is restored. We were extremely fortunate in that we had few confirmed deaths, but many homes and businesses were destroyed.

The beautiful thing that did come out of the hurricane was the increased sense of community and partnership. As Mr. Rogers said, “look for the helpers,” and they were everywhere after the hurricane. In my own neighborhood, which lost power for six days, the streets were full of helping hands—neighbors bringing their tools and trucks and equipment to remove trees from driveways and roads. I found myself talking to people in the neighborhood who I’d never met before as we reached out to make sure that everyone was safe and had enough food to eat.

As businesses and churches regained power, they opened their doors to offer food, showers, wi-fi, and a place to charge electronics, all for free. Having available internet and power was a huge part of the recovery process as people coordinated rescue missions or supply drop-offs. The community was able to get real-time updates on relief efforts, restoration of electricity, and locations that offered free services.

In your opinion, what is the library’s responsibility to the community and role during times of natural disasters and crisis?

To me, libraries should always represent an open, safe space. Sometimes, that simply means that it’s a place you can come and just exist, for free, with no expectations or stipulations. In times of crises, libraries can become more of a literal safe space, offering shelter, a controlled climate, electricity, and wi-fi. They can also share information about disaster relief and other resources while keeping their community up-to-date on events as they unfold.

How did your library respond to events like COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires?

In 2020, our libraries closed on March 19th, following a state stay-at-home order, for three weeks before reopening as curbside-service only. Patrons could call ahead and request books and other materials. All returned materials were quarantined for several days and cleaned before returning to shelves. Upon reopening to the public in June, we limited the number of patrons allowed in the buildings, disinfected frequently, and maintained social distancing protocols. In-house programs were temporarily discontinued, but we offered take-home kits in lieu of craft programs, and our children’s librarian provided a virtual story time weekly on our YouTube channel. Our marketing coordinator frequently shared various activities and informational videos on our social media to engage our followers and provide entertainment and education. We also began using the MyLibro app, which allowed patrons to check their own items out and thus reduce the amount of person-to-person contact. Several of our full-time employees served as hotline operators from their desks for vaccine information and scheduling once it became available.

After Hurricane Helene, our main branch was very fortunate in that it did not lose power or sustain much damage. We were able to open after only a few days and provide an air-conditioned location with electricity and wi-fi for the public. We shared updates from the county government on our social media, and all three branches took turns hosting FEMA representatives to support patrons during their recovery process. We also waived fees for hurricane-related (FEMA, insurance, etc.) faxes sent during the initial recovery period. Mountains Branch, our location in Lake Lure, hosted FEMA for the longest amount of time, as the need was greatest there, and served as a supply donation site.

The WNC wildfires did not influence our library system.

As a library staff member, what was your role during the most recent of COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires? Did your position or responsibilities change?

I was still a part-time staff member during COVID-19, but I spent much of my time disinfecting surfaces, ensuring that patrons properly wore masks when required, and then disinfecting again. I remember how uncertain everything felt when we first reopened but having the library open as a little slice of normalcy (even with certain restrictions in place) was very beneficial to both me and the patrons after over two months of isolation. I heard, “I’m so glad you’re open” more times than I can count during those first several months! I think much of the staff was a little nervous about enforcing some of the new policies (like mask wearing), fearing pushback, but my general experience was that people were willing to comply, even when they clearly thought the policies were unnecessary. As the Outreach and Marketing Manager, my role during Helene largely involved sharing information with our patrons, both about county conditions as a whole and information specific
to our library branches. All staff members had to familiarize themselves with some of the basics of applying for FEMA and other resources such as locations that offered showers or food in order to answer the many phone calls and in-person questions we received in the weeks
following Helene.

After reflecting on these events and your library’s response, share your thoughts and ideas on how the libraries may continue or better assist their communities in the future?
As is always true with libraries, I think it’s important that we are able to provide accurate information to the public and be sure that we communicate it clearly. Compiling a printable list of resources that can easily be handed out in times of crisis is helpful—some of
this can be done beforehand, but it will need to be a living document that is constantly updated as new information comes forth.

For the purposes of this research, I am proposing the creation of a library “go bag” so that libraries may anticipate and mobilize to assist the community when these events inevitably occur in the future. From your experience, what are a few items that you would recommend for this preparation? Why?

A wi-fi hotspot box, although you never know which areas will have enough signal strength until you get there.
Up-to-date printouts with resources to hand out—you could possibly have a few different “flavors” of this handout and then just take the one that is most appropriate for the situation.
A library cellphone, if possible, that people could use to contact resources if they do not have a way to do so on their own.
A laptop (ideally several) for applying for resources.
A few basic supplies such as towels, water, hand sanitizer, light first aid (band-aids and antibiotic ointment at least), hygiene products, blankets
Narcan, if the library is certified in administering it. Same with an AED machine if staff members are certified.

Librarian 2

Please describe how you (personally) and your community (broadly) have been affected by natural disasters and crises.

I've been through many hurricanes in my life. When I was in high school, there was a major fire in my family home. I've been robbed, shot at, illegally arrested, in severe medical situations, and religiously discriminated against. I've found that mutual aid and community support have been the things that make recovery possible.

In your opinion, what is the library’s responsibility to the community and role during times of natural disasters and crisis?

Flexibility. Libraries need to leverage their widespread roles in their communities to be able to help in any way that they can. During, or particularly after disasters, libraries essentially need to abandon their old operating structure and do whatever they can to directly and immediately support their community's pressing needs.

How did your library respond to events like COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires?

Hurricane Helene was the only of those crises that affected my library and community. Fortunately, we were only closed for approximately a week. While there was no major damage in my community, a larger portion of it lost electric and telecommunications. To support the community, once we reopened, we were serving a large portion of the community with internet and phone connection, as well as a large number of people who had evacuated much harder hit areas. As a group, the library staff all volunteered to dramatically extend library hours to help serve this population.

As a library staff member, what was your role during the most recent of COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires? Did your position or responsibilities change?
See above. Additionally, I found my own role changing as I spent less time on management and much more time providing reference help and community engagement.

After reflecting on these events and your library’s response, share your thoughts and ideas on how the libraries may continue or better assist their communities in the future.

Preparation. While libraries can't fully prepare for every disaster, there are some significant things that can apply to many things- lists of resources, preparation skills, planning resources, and etc. And then after a disaster, libraries should reopen as quickly as possible, because they can be major community hubs to help in any way possible, in partnership with however many agencies as needed.

Senior Center

Waiting for responses from staff at the Senior Center in Polk County.

Map showing the three active wildfires in Polk County, NC in March 2025.

User-Centric Feedback

Finally, the researcher considered user-centric feedback that asked community members residing in Polk County to share from their experiences. Two community members, one citizen and a firefighter, were asked to respond.

Interview Responses:

Community Member

Please describe how you (personally) and your community (broadly) have been affected by natural disasters and crises.

Personally I found the hurricane and aftermath very isolating. I'm retired, and have my projects and volunteer activities. The storm led to road closures that we are still dealing with more than 6 months later. These road closures and storm aftermath have left me feeling remote, unable to get to or participate in activities I would usually do. I'm still feeling this loss and negotiating friendships and activities that are no longer able to be reached. For the community, it has been even more difficult. Businesses have closed, others are hurting. Our community was known as an outdoor recreation area. our four local waterfalls are not accessible, this really hurts tourism and remaining businesses.

Retrospectively, what unmet needs or services did you recognize in your community during COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires?

The isolation was not something I predicted. Sort of being stuck in Saluda, not able to access nearby resources, shops, activities. Also, the lack of knowledge/communication. So much was word of mouth. Especially during hurricane, no one had power/wifi. People came to town to learn what is happening

In your opinion, what is the library’s responsibility to its community and role during times of natural disasters and crisis?

The role of the library will continue to evolve in these disasters. That said, instead of the realtor office having been a communication center, I would have liked to see the library (a neutral entity) being a communication center. At some point during the storm, the library wifi did become useful. I trust the library for answers and would have liked to get more information.

In what ways do you hope to see the library serve the community when these events inevitably occur in the future? Please brainstorm and share a few ideas.

A place for all the answers. Distribution and communication center. The library is where we go for answers.

Local Firefighter

Please describe how you (personally) and your community (broadly) have been affected by natural disasters and crises.

Personally, I haven't really been affected. My community was affected by Helene, which wiped out most of Green River Cove - landslides destroyed a lot of homes (37) and there was one fatality from a landslide. During the recent wildfires, I was working a lot so I was stressed about being away from home. While the fires weren't near my house, I was worried that another one could start at any time. We could never get the upper hand on these fires with the weather as it was with wind and low humidity. It was hard to gain any ground because the fire was moving so fast.

Retrospectively, what unmet needs or services did you recognize in your community during COVID-19, Hurricane Helene, and the WNC wildfires?

During Helene, there was no internet or cell phone service since the towers went down. It took 3-4 days to get a Starlink, so next time we'll be better prepared for that. No one thought that could happen. There was a huge need to get connected. No one could call and check on anybody, no one knew what was going on. No one knew how their family was doing. It was very stressful. The lack of communication was a huge issue. There were no issues with food or water because so many people were donating. I ate better during the hurricane and fires than I normally do!

In your opinion, what is the library’s responsibility to its community and role during times of natural disasters and crisis?

To be a place where people can come use computers and wifi if they don't have internet at home. A place to come and communicate.

In what ways do you hope to see the library serve the community when these events inevitably occur in the future? Please brainstorm and share a few ideas.

Get a generator and open up so you can be a spot where people can come.

Participant-Researcher Observations

COVID-19 Pandemic - During the COVID-19 Pandemic, my library system was one of the only libraries in North Carolina that did not close. We remained open with limited services and curbside pick-up options. At the time, I was the Program Coordinator and in charge of library programs and community engagement. Big shifts in my job description occurred during this uncertain time. Almost exclusively all programs shifted to a digital format. I also worked alongside the Youth Services Librarian to offer take and make craft kits for children, teenagers, and adults. Adults were also offered monthly spice kits, which included a simple recipe to try at home and spice samples in lieu of our regularly scheduled cookbook club. In addition to this shift, I became increasingly involved in the county's COVID-19 hotline - answering questions and scheduling vaccine appointments at the local mass vaccine site. As time passed, I found myself outside of the library completely and working regularly at the vaccine site. I was originally scouted for data entry, but a shortage of hands put me on the front lines of this drive-thru clinic at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (the biggest vaccine clinic between Charlotte and Raleigh, NC). I took initial information and temperatures of anyone arriving driving into the clinic. I also updated and worked with a team to manage the Polk County resources listings and NC-211 website.

Hurricane Helene - The destruction from Helene put the entire community on hold, as power, water, and cell service were not functionable for almost a week. Individuals residing further out into the county lost these things for a much longer amount of time. Before county offices reopened and reported back to work, I often found myself on the courthouse lawn or at other WiFi hotspots in town guiding individuals through connecting to WiFi, making a WiFi call, explaining why cell service was down, or other technology related questions. This was beneficial, because given the size of the county, many individuals recognized me from the library and sought out my assistance. I was also able to provide information about resources available and where people could go for gas, food, water, and shelter.

At this point in my library career, I was a library manager for the system's branch location. The weather from Helene left the library closed for many months (end of September-February). During this time, there was little to be done about the actual library building, because the building is owned by the city. As a result of the damage and temporary closure, the staff from the branch were scheduled to work at the main location. Before county offices reopened the main library reopened. I was amazed at the number of people who knew to come to the library for information and the value that the community placed on our resources. Since we did have power and the internet everyone flooded to us! I set up the community room with comfortable seating, on-going children's and family movies, and charging stations. This seemed to be an invaluable service for many families trying to connect with loved ones and maintain some sense of normalcy for their children. When FEMA made it into town, representatives set up at the library to guide community members through the application process for relief funding. When a neighboring county's FEMA representatives received death threats, security increased for the FEMA representatives at my library. We had a heavy police presence. This was quite intimidating for families and those with young children. In fact, at one point, library staff purchased candy and stickers for the officers to hand out to make things a little more welcoming.

My role shifted greatly. When I arrived at the main library, I was soon deployed out to work with the GIS department. Inspectors from Raleigh came to write reports on homes in the flood plain of Polk County. I was responsible for taking their inspection reports, comparing it to the original property records, and entering data for FEMA to provide monetary support for repairs and assistance. This took up a large portion of the time that my branch library was closed. When that job ended, I was then placed in charge of the county's debris removal hotline. I would guide callers or enter the information into the removal form myself to identify their area, type of debris to be removed, and then submit that information to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who were overseeing the removal for the county at that time.

In February, my branch library was able to be reopened. As I mentioned previously, we took in a lot of water and there was a substantial amount of damage that occurred to the building and its contents. A large portion was my office and Teen Space, which were located on the bottom floor of the library. Our entire young adult, large print fiction and nonfiction, and 2/3s of our nonfiction materials were lost. Thankfully, the library has been working with our insurance company, the city, and FEMA to restore items that were damaged or lost in the storm. This is an on-going process that is still being addressed at the time of this documentation in April of 2025.

WNC Wildfires - There were two sets of wildfires that plagued Polk County, North Carolina in the early months of 2025. In addition to the land and property that was damaged, the air quality took a toll on the area too. The first of the wildfires was located close to Tryon and Columbus. The second fires impacted Mill Spring, Columbus, and Saluda. These fires gained national attention quickly for the spread and damage that they caused. In fact, the U.S. Forestry Service worked alongside local firefighters for an extended amount of time. Local firefighters served as well as fire fighters who traveled from other states to assist in controlling the flames. Virtual maps were updated several times a day to alert the community of evacuation recommendations and order. The second set of fires put the Saluda Library within the recommended evacuation alerts.

Going to and from the library was like a scene out of a post-apocalyptic movie - the air was heavy with smoke and ash fell from the sky like snow. Again, residents turned to the library for updates and answers, and the library seemed to be the last in line to get valid information. It was heartbreaking to hear from regular library patrons who had to evacuate but remembered to gather their library books along with the final things they would take with them. Our soon-to-be featured local artist called to let me know that her home and all of her artwork had been lost in the fire. These events singed the entire county, as it seems either folks were impacted directly or their friends, families, and neighbors had devastating stories to report afterwards.

Summary of Responses and Relation to this Project

In an editorial column focusing on libraries and natural disasters, author Anne Prestamo noted that the American Library Association's LibGuide, Library Disaster Preparedness & Response, shared a statistic from the Heritage Health Index, in 2005 a "reported 78% of libraries do not have a disaster plan and staff trained to carry it out" (Prestamo, 2018). The collective responses from those interviewed and identify as internal system-centric people (library staff at Polk County Public Libraries), external system-centric people (leaders from surrounding library systems and local organizations), user-centric people (community members), and from the researcher's own experiences (participant-researcher/observations) echo the information seen in the Promising Practices sections of this portfolio - that libraries have a duty to serve as a communication and information center in times of natural disaster and crises.

In May of 2003, Jan Haines from the Ohio State Library proposed A Disaster Preparedness Plan for Small Public Libraries. In the article, Jan describes emergencies like fire and water disasters, tornadoes. This plan is similar to my work, because it similarly recognizes the profession's need to create disaster plans tailored for their community's needs. Similar to the researcher's proposed library "go-bag," the author recommends gathering supplies in advance to be used only in case of emergency. This idea was called, a "disaster response supply can" and the suggested contents included things like: lysol, large plastic bags, plastic sheeting, a large plastic trash can with lid, scissors, paper towels, flashlight, batteries, dust masks, permanent markers, 5 gallon bucket, latex gloves, and "Do Not Enter" tape. The author goes on to say, "A disaster preparedness plan should be considered a living document. No matter how much effort you have put into preparing a plan, it will be ineffective if your staff is unaware of it, if it is outdated, or if you cannot find it during an emergency. Staff should be aware of their responsibilities for basic response actions" (Haines, 2003). These thoughts and plans are a perfect starting place to brainstorm how an updated version may be created and used in libraries in 2025. In the next steps of this project, the researcher creates a strategic diversity action plan that builds on this foundation.

References:

Ohio State Library, C., & Haines, J. (2003). A Disaster Preparedness Plan for Small Public Libraries, 2002.

Prestamo, A. M. (2018). Libraries and Natural Disasters. Journal of Library Administration, 58(1), 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2017.1399709

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