Türkiye'deki Halk Kütüphanelerinin Afet Yönetimi Açısından Yönetici Görüşlerine Göre Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Works in public libraries can be adversely affected by such factors as natural hazard-induced disasters, emergencies, human-induced risks, environmental as well as indoor conditions. Due to their structure, these works are in danger of being damaged or destroyed. In addition to the works, personnel and users can also be adversely affected by these factors. Delivering valuable works in public libraries, which serve as a historical, social and cultural bridge between the past and the future, to future generations by taking preventive measures is a matter of first priority. Transferring the works to future generations intact requires protection from disasters and carrying out risk identification and assessment studies by regularly monitoring the indoor conditions. For this purpose, preventive studies should be carried out, measures should be determined before the risk occurs and existing risks, if any, should be tackled without delay. Taking precautions will minimize tangible and intangible damage to personnel, users and works caused by possible natural hazard-induced//human-induced disasters and emergencies or indoor environmental conditions. The aim of this study is to determine whether the collections in public libraries, which are supposed to be structurally safe, are protected against the risks that may arise from non-structural elements. Another aim is to reveal the preventive practices and measures that should be taken for this purpose in public libraries. After this awareness to be acquired by administrators, identification of disaster risks arising from non-structural factors and reducing the effects of possible disasters, emergency and indoor conditions will contribute to the improvement of the existing situation. In this descriptive research, the data were obtained through questionnaires and interviews. The population of the study is composed of provincial and district public libraries affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Turkish Republic. The research findings showed that public library administrators did not evaluate the issue with a holistic approach in terms of disaster risk management and disaster management. Accordingly, it was concluded that the preventive measures taken in terms of non-structural elements are not at the specified standards and are not effective enough, since the approaches and systems that should work together and complement each other are not yet integrated in public libraries. As a result, it is suggested that the indoor conditions that may harm people and collections in public libraries should be arranged in accordance with the standards, and the preventive measures for natural hazard-induced/human-induced disasters should be considered and evaluated as a whole with the disaster hazards-of their settlements.