Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on museum and library disaster preparedness and response

Authors:

• Chanelle Geveshausen, Museology Graduate Program
• Chair: Jessica Luke
• Marion Eberly
• Stephanie Mohr

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Abstract:

The museum field and the nonprofit world were greatly impacted by closures during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. In response, museums are rethinking how to best mitigate the harmful effects of future disasters like COVID-19. The purpose of this research study was to examine the ways in which museums and libraries are retooling their disaster preparedness plans post-COVID. This research study used a descriptive case study design that included data acquired through questionnaire responses and facilitated interviews with museum professionals across three institutions. Results suggest that museum and library staff are having to explore and document creative solutions to various concerns including but not limited to vendor shipping changes; evolving CDC recommendations; lost social connections; and lost access to museum objects due to safety protocols. Results identify two affordances in case study sites’ disaster planning: clear communication procedures and disaster response committees. Three constraints were identified around the problem of the institution being closed for an unexpectedly long period of time, including documentation problems, communication problems, and business continuity planning problems. As a result, collaboration and communication are at the forefront of these three case study institutions’ approach to retooling their disaster preparedness plans to better address situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. This case study may be significant to practitioners with the museum, cultural, nonprofit, education, and hospital fields to better understand current models and practices of disaster response planning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.