Category 4: Constructing Knowledge about Public Librarians’ Roles in Natural Disasters: A Heuristic Inquiry into Community Resiliency in Florida’s Hurricane Michael

Abstract

Abstract:Vulnerable rural residents rely on public librarians for catastrophic weather support; however, many disaster policies are incomplete, outdated, or nonexistent, leaving public librarians with little more than their lived experiences to determine needed actions. Complicating matters further, many public librarians must prioritize community service over their personal needs like damaged homes and nonfunctioning utilities. In this study, researchers and public librarians co-constructed knowledge about library activities before, during, and after Hurricane Michael in 2018. In a heuristic inquiry across three case studies, researchers and participants reflected on actions, perceptions, and outcomes. This process enabled public librarians to realize that before Hurricane Michael, though they had received little communication or direction from municipal leaders, their outreach efforts effectively aided community preparedness. Public librarians noted that even with a limited communications infrastructure (e.g., lack of internet connectivity, fax machines, and cellular service) and hindering bureaucratic requirements, they identified, designed, and provided missing services to high-need communities. Participants saw that reestablishing library functions after the storm superseded their personal needs and updating library disaster policies. The study findings and research method offer researchers and practitioners collaborative ways to capture learning from stressful situations and improve community disaster resiliency.