"Because a library is often located in a central area, it is common for it to be approached by potential partners during any kind of crisis or disaster" (Lyons, 2025). The library has not only an essential role in times of natural disaster and crisis, but a critical one to play too. With the knowledge gained from this project, the researcher has developed a strategic diversity action plan for the collaborating agency, Polk County Public Libraries, and libraries in general in order to allow them to continue growing in both their services to their communities and in professional practice.
7.1. Strategic Action Plan
The Core Values of the Polk County Public Libraries include respect, curiosity, adaptability, enthusiasm, and equity. Each of these values speaks to how the library sees its role in the community and serves as a reminder to to staff on how the library system aims to achieve their:
Vision - Create Connections. Ignite Imaginations.
Mission - We enrich lives, encourage ideas, and celebrate community.
The library describes the core values with the following statements:
Respectful - We are considerate and treat everyone with dignity.
Curious - We explore and encourage learning in all forms.
Adaptable - We support each other as library and community needs change.
Enthusiastic - We bring energy and passion to all we do.
Equitable - We serve our community with open and equal access.
In relation to serving the community during times of natural disaster and crisis, the researcher has identified the Polk County Public Libraries Core Values of adaptability, enthusiasm, and equity as being the guiding focus of the strategic diversity action plan in this project. These three Core Values voice the library's mission to adapt and serve the community in the best way possible, regardless of the situation. Outside of this project's connection to the Polk County Public Libraries, library and information science professionals should be ready to serve and provide information, as it is their responsibility.
While a Strategic Diversity Action Plan did not previously exist, below, the researcher shares a plan that has emerged as a result of this project. In the five simple steps of the Strategic Diversity Action Plan the research identifies and describes how the Polk County Public Libraries may begin to shift their thinking and operations in order to serve their rural community as a truly adaptable information agency moving forward.
"Libraries' service in times of disaster continues to evolve by necessity. They are naturally the place residents gravitate to; they are seen as trustworthy, providing information that is accurate and thorough, and they offer many specialized services that can adapt during times of need" (Lyons, 2025). The strategic action plan that emerged as a result of the work in this project includes the creation of a library "go bag," a term regularly used in discussions surrounding disaster preparations and readiness and defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "a bag packed with survival supplies and kept ready for use in case of an emergency that requires rapid evacuation - also known as a bug-out bag" (Merriam-Webster, 2025). In the following image, the researcher uses recommendations from the Community Analysis portion of this project and case studies from other libraries to describe three levels of "go bags" that may be formed. Level 1 includes recommendations that any library should be able to gather and have on hand. Level 2 and especially Level 3 share recommendations for items that would be most ideal to have in their "go bag," but would most likely require special funding.
Disaster preparedness items for a library "go bag."
7.2. Projections
It is the researcher's hope that this strategic diversity action plan is taken and applied as a tool for the host agency to use in order to better serve the needs of the diverse population of the county's rural residents. With a library "go bag," the library may become mobile and deploy into their community as an information resource during times of natural disaster and crisis. It is ideal that this project's examination will prompt the Polk County Public Libraries to begin conversations amongst their library management team and community leaders that will situate them as a recognized and reliable resource going forward.
"It is deeply important for government leaders to be aware that libraries provide critical services in climate emergencies, and that their work moves their communities toward and through recovery" (Lyons, 2025). In the past eight months, Polk County, North Carolina has encountered three natural disasters that have devastated the area and left their mark of destruction on the county. Each time, the library has had the opportunity to be at the center of the community, working as an information hub and providing hope. Each time, the library has not met that mark, either due to limitations from county direction or overall preparedness. Centering the library as THE main resource would benefit county officials and departments. These conversations are necessary for the strategic diversity plan and "go bag" to work efficiently. Communication and making community officials aware that the library is the place (seen after Hurricane Helene) that the community gravitates towards for resources and answers.
While not an ideal situation, these disasters have afforded the library and the researcher power of reflection and consideration of how the library can better serve the community in the future, when new crises and disasters inevitably arise. It is imperative that we learn from these experiences and do better going forward.
References:
Lyons, D. (2025, April 1). LESSONS IN RESILIENCE: Libraries have a critical role to play in disaster preparedness and recovery; advocates are working to document those efforts. Library Journal, 150(4), 12.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Go bag. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved April 20, 2025, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20bag