001 Defining Risk Management
- 6 years ago
Disaster recovery is an important practical risk
management area for online Information Technology
(IT) systems. It is especially important for universities
and academic institutions with online libraries
where system integrity is dependent on 24/7 continuity
for students, faculty, and the university infrastructure.
Academic Libraries in the twenty-first century
are increasingly electronic with both massive e-book
and e-journal holdings and the associated systems
which accompany these holdings. This article discusses
pragmatic work experience, observations, and current
research on disaster recovery mechanisms for online
libraries. It focuses particularly on disaster recovery and
risk management strategies for online academic and
special libraries. By ensuring disaster recovery, an online
library helps ensures the viability of the university system
if a natural or human-caused disaster befalls the
associated physical university or the associated online
learning management system (LMS) goes down.
Currently, the general status of online library contingency
planning is unsatisfactory or poor. Hurricanes,
floods, and university closures caused by inclement
weather or other threats occur increasingly frequently.
If any thought has been given in the past to library
disaster recovery planning, this has largely been to
the physical library and contingencies based on paper
and print collections. Many guidelines too frequently
focus on fire-centered sprinkler system/emergency
procedures written to protect physical holdings and
staff. While extremely important, there are now major
parts of libraries online. With most libraries shifting
to online modalities, e-content collections and
e-services, times have changed. Lack of widespread
emergency planning is not strictly because of neglect
but rather budgetary priorities, and for the most part,
strapped library budgets. The problem is significantly
widespread enough that online libraries plans, even if
they do exist, are reactive or out-of-date rather than
proactive and current. In this light, the following wider
admonitions and prescriptions are forwarded as pragmatic
plans and opening sets of considerations
management area for online Information Technology
(IT) systems. It is especially important for universities
and academic institutions with online libraries
where system integrity is dependent on 24/7 continuity
for students, faculty, and the university infrastructure.
Academic Libraries in the twenty-first century
are increasingly electronic with both massive e-book
and e-journal holdings and the associated systems
which accompany these holdings. This article discusses
pragmatic work experience, observations, and current
research on disaster recovery mechanisms for online
libraries. It focuses particularly on disaster recovery and
risk management strategies for online academic and
special libraries. By ensuring disaster recovery, an online
library helps ensures the viability of the university system
if a natural or human-caused disaster befalls the
associated physical university or the associated online
learning management system (LMS) goes down.
Currently, the general status of online library contingency
planning is unsatisfactory or poor. Hurricanes,
floods, and university closures caused by inclement
weather or other threats occur increasingly frequently.
If any thought has been given in the past to library
disaster recovery planning, this has largely been to
the physical library and contingencies based on paper
and print collections. Many guidelines too frequently
focus on fire-centered sprinkler system/emergency
procedures written to protect physical holdings and
staff. While extremely important, there are now major
parts of libraries online. With most libraries shifting
to online modalities, e-content collections and
e-services, times have changed. Lack of widespread
emergency planning is not strictly because of neglect
but rather budgetary priorities, and for the most part,
strapped library budgets. The problem is significantly
widespread enough that online libraries plans, even if
they do exist, are reactive or out-of-date rather than
proactive and current. In this light, the following wider
admonitions and prescriptions are forwarded as pragmatic
plans and opening sets of considerations