Photo of the wildfire in Polk County on March 1, 2025.
Three case studies similar to the researcher's collaborating agency, Polk County Public Libraries, are recognized in this section as additional promising practices. These studies highlight responses to natural disasters and crises, and share examples of how libraries responded in the moment to serve their communities.
Organization 1: LA County Public Library was chosen as an example for its response to the wildfires raging in California. It gave the researcher insight as to how the response to other types of natural disasters and crises are met and what response looks like from a larger library system who is serving a larger community.
Organization 2: Belk Library & Information Commons at Appalachian State University was chosen for its close proximity to the researcher's collaborating agency. It was also affected by the same disaster, and provided an example of how academic libraries serve not only their students and faculty, but also their surrounding communities during times of emergency.
Organization 3: Buncombe County Special Collections located in Asheville, North Carolina was selected due to their close geographical location to the researcher's collaborating agency and the initiatives that they began to help their community heal during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This example considers how special collections libraries and local partnerships with libraries may be involved in disaster and crisis preparedness.
Organization 1: LA County Public Library
1) Collections - The LA County Public Library is a system made up of 89 branches and several bookmobiles that serves across California. In addition to their physical collections, they have extensive digital collections that include movies, TV, music, databases, magazines, and newspapers. Community members may apply for a digital card online or get a physical library card in person. The digital library cards, collections, and mental health resources were emphasized by library staff during the wildfires. Staff also took homework help and other collection items to evacuation shelters to assist and provide comfort during the uncertainty of the disaster.
2) Resources - In a statement shared on their website, the County Librarian, Skye Patrick, shared resources available through the library, FEMA, and emergency resource lists with the Los Angeles County community. The message shared the library's role in assisting the community in this tumultuous time with the following offerings: ability to charge phones and devices, access to water fountains and restrooms, educational supplies for kids and teens, WI-FI access, forms and hotline assistance for FEMA and the Los Angeles County Assessor, as well as links for mental health resources were shared.
3) Assigned Role - Following wildfires in California the staff at the LA County Public Library stepped up as flames consumed their community. Not only were staff aiding the affected population in the physical spaces of the library, they were also deployed out into the community to serve at evacuation shelters. In the article, a librarian is quoted as recognizing this disaster's effects but specifically the long recovery process that lies ahead - “There’s going to be lots of opportunities going forward, but think of this as a marathon, not a sprint” (Newmark, 2025).
4) Strategic Representations - The website for the LA County Public Library shares information about the library's mission, values, and their newly updated strategic plan.
Mission - LA County Library belongs to our communities and serves as a portal to learn, grow, and succeed.
Values -
Trust: We provide reliable service for the long term.
Hope: We enable what's possible.
Leadership: We strive to model a more equitable future.
Connection: Our relationships make us strong.
Current Strategic Priorities: The 2024-2028 strategic plan for the LA County Public Library centers on the theme, "Where Community Happens." It shares the library's current focus on four strategic priorities: advancing their partnerships, telling their story, rising to their potential, and belonging to their communities.
7) Internal Department / Unit - n/a
6) News and Events (internal) - The LA County Public Library communicated internally on their website through statements made by administrating staff and by sharing emergency-related information on the homepage of their website. Under the heading of News & Announcements they have currently shared campaign support information for fire victims and the recently issued statement of support from their county librarian. They also shared updated information through their social media pages.
7) News and Events (external) - In the midst of the wildfires and the LA County Public Library's response to serve their community, their Palisades Branch Library suffered as a casualty. This video from Fox 11 shows the heartbreaking destruction in real time. Another external response was also briefly shared in a post, "LA Libraries Responding to the Fires".
Organization 2: Belk Library & Information Commons at Appalachian State University
1) Collections - In addition to their main collection the university libraries at Appalachian State University have an instructional materials center, special collections research center, digital collections, study spaces, sensory spaces, makerspaces, a full programming calendar of events, gaming tournaments and much more. Following Hurricane Helene, the University Library Advisory Council created a plan for students who were displaced during the storm and studying or attending classes from other locations. A digital resource page was created to broadly provide accurate disaster relief related information as well.
2) Resources - Resources offered by the Belk Library and Information Commons, specifically related to disaster response included turning the library space into a resource hub that provided shelter, water, power, internet access, WIFI, and printing services. The article also shared that the library's food pantry became an essential resource for those on campus, with an influx of users seeking assistance after the storm. The library partnered with Cornerstone Summit Church and the Hospitality House of Northwestern North Carolina to provide food and supplies through the pantry. The effectiveness of the pantry prompted an additional pantry to be created at the university's Hickory Campus in February.
3) Assigned Role - Academic library and staff, serving their students, faculty, and community who shifted their traditional roles of library spaces and offerings to disaster relief and response.
4) Strategic Representations - The following statements regarding the library's mission, vision, and values were taken from the 2022-2027 University Libraries Strategic Plan.
Mission: Appalachian State University Libraries are essential teaching and research partners inspiring and guiding all who pursue knowledge.
Vision: We are dynamic partners in the campus and online learning communities in support of the university’s mission and strategic directions. Our collections, facilities, services, technology, and instruction contribute to the educational success of students, staff, and faculty and are a vital part of the research lifecycle and other creative endeavors. Building on our values of service, innovation, engagement, and student success, we are dedicated to the goal of providing full and equal access to information resources.
Value Statements:
• Responsive and timely service to student and faculty learning and research needs
• Barrier-free access to services and resources
• Effective collaborations and partnerships with campus and community
• Thoughtful and respectful listening and dialog with each other and those we serve
• Employee professional and personal development and empowerment
• Intellectual freedom and critical discourse
• Innovation and creativity
• Sustainable and flexible approaches to resources and services
5) Internal Department / Unit - Of the three university libraries at Appalachian State University, this article looks at the response from Belk Library & Information Commons. Due to the overwhelming need in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and effectiveness of action taken by the Belk Library & Information Commons, the library located on the university's Hickory campus expanded to include a dedicated pantry in February 2025.
6) News and Events (internal) - On December 9, 2024, an internal article was published on AppState125 that spotlight the university libraries response to Hurricane Helene.
7) News and Events (external) - Additional information on Appalachian State University's role in response to this natural disaster can be seen in a social media video that shows an initial assessment of the damages to the campus.
Organization 3: Buncombe County Special Collections
Article Link: https://specialcollections.buncombecounty.org/helene/
1) Collections - The special collections archive, the Buncombe County Special Collections is housed within the Pack Memorial Library, located in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. This archive houses materials specific to preserving the history of North Carolina, Western North Carolina, Asheville, and other nearby locations.
2) Resources - Natural disaster and crisis related resources provided by the special collections archive look differently than goods and services distributed to those in need. This library chose to serve its community by providing support and healing through the preservation of oral history, artwork, and writing. The collection of these materials will serve to document the disaster as part of local history.
3) Assigned Role - According to their website, Buncombe County Special Collections works alongside the Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections, Buncombe County Public Libraries, the Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County, UNC Asheville Special Collections, and Warren Wilson College on the Come Hell or High Water Community Memory Project. These partnerships allude to the connections libraries can make in order to serve their communities in the most efficient ways possible during times of natural disaster and crisis. No doubt these relationships were formed before Hurricane Helene and in the midst of the chaos allowed the groups to collaborate on this incredible project.
4) Strategic Representations - The following information regarding Buncombe County Special Collections was gathered from information shared on the "About Us" page of their website.
Mission and Vision - "We are proud of our historic resources and are committed to preserving them for the future, through preservation, digitization, and decreasing barriers to public access."
About Us - "The Buncombe County Special Collections Library (formerly the North Carolina Room) is a medium-sized archival facility located on the lower level of Pack Memorial Library in Downtown Asheville. Buncombe County Special Collections specializes in the social, cultural, and natural history of Asheville, Buncombe County, and Western North Carolina."
Current Strategic Priorities - n/a
5) Internal Department / Unit - n/a
6) News and Events (internal) - n/a
7) News and Events (external) - Come Hell or High Water Community Memory Project
According to the website, "Come Hell or High Water is a community memory project to collect, preserve, and present the stories and digital record of the Western North Carolina communities impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, with a particular emphasis on Buncombe County, our home. They hope to offer pathways for community reflection, healing, and long-term development of community memory not afforded victims of past disasters." The project was multi-faceted in that it allowed community members to contribute to a digital memory bank, young people to submit writing or artwork that captured their thoughts and feelings from the storm, and art events and exhibits to help the community heal through artistic expression. An impactful event, ReClaim the RAD, encouraged local artists from Asheville's River Arts District to showcase their work that was either found in the flood waters or new art that they created out of found and debris pieces.
Update after 6 months - An update was shared on the Come Hell or High Water Community Memory Project at the beginning of April. In the update, project leaders share that the projects has accepted 400 items into the digital memory bank by more than 100 contributors. The website has expanded to include a contribution portal and now a hotline where individuals may call to share 3-minute stories, reflections, or thoughts of gratitude. The update also considers how the outreach, oral history, and tech/admin teams have continued to work on the project. With the growth of the project, the article also reports that events to showcase the works will take place this summer.
References:
Appalachian State University. (2024, December 9). The University Libraries Response After Hurricane Helene. APPSTATE125. https://library.appstate.edu/news/university-libraries-response-after-hurricane-helene
Come Hell or High Water. Buncombe County Special Collections. (2025, April 2). https://specialcollections.buncombecounty.org/helene/
Newmark, R. (2025, January 22). During Wildfires, Los Angeles Libraries Offer Community Lifelines. American Libraries Magazine. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/during-wildfires-los-angeles-libraries-offer-community-lifelines/
Scardilli, B. (Ed.). (2025, January 16). LA Libraries Responding to the Fires. ITI News Breaks. https://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/Digest/LA-Libraries-Responding-to-the-Fires-167594.asp