Building Better: How Libraries Can Be an Integral Part of Helping Their Communities Rebuild After Fires
Inspired by the Butte County Library (BCL)’s experience with the 2018 Camp Fire, we created ‘Building Better’, a resource website for fire survivor support planning. Most disaster recovery plans lack a survivor support component, so we researched the ways libraries can aid their communities in recovery. We surveyed Camp Fire survivors, interviewed BCL employees, attended library events, spoke with a disaster recovery expert, and researched other libraries’ responses to different types of natural disasters. Libraries can play a vital role in the recovery of their communities after disasters, and ‘Building Better’ can leave them better prepared to aid survivors.