Could library automation systems track evacuees?

John,

Interesting idea, although I suspect the best place to turn
would be the Open Source ILS software packages, such as
Koha, phpMyLibrary, and the currently-being-developed
Evergreen.

I suspect that one or more of these packages could be
modified so that fields and relationships could be renamed
and adapted as needed.  This wouldn't be a small project
with any ILS, but I could see a project saving a lot of time
and effort by adapting an existing program compared to
creating an evacuation database from scratch.

Turning to the open source model would also help to ease
fears of at least some (though not all) of the privacy
issues involved, as the code could be reviewed, and the
software tested, by anyone with concerns.

In addition, an "offline" mode could be set up
to allow information entry without a live network/internet
connection, then upload the information when the connection
is restored.  Depending on what has been set up in the ILS
for offline activities, this could also be an adaptation of
existing code.

Thanks for sharing an interesting idea!

Rick Mason

>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: JOHN MARQUETTE <JOHNMAci.commerce.ca.us>
>  Subject: [Web4lib] Could library automation systems
track evacuees?
>  Sent: 30 May '06 14:18
>  
>  The May 25, 2006 "Morning Edition" program
on NPR said that a recent
>  disaster drill in New Orleans was canceled because
nobody could figure
>  out who was in charge.  While libraries and librarians
are not the
>  people to take over an orderly evacuation, I can't
think of a group more
>  capable.  We have a powerful tool at hand to manage
the movement of
>  evacuees - our automation systems.
>  
>  The NPR story said that for future evacuations, people
would not be
>  housed at the SuperDome, just processed there.  They
mentioned barcodes
>  and played the sound of a volunteer giving personal
information and a
>  "bleeping" barcode reader. If this is a
FEMA-designed product, I'm not
>  sure if I'd trust it.
>  
>  Libraries might be able to participate in identifying
and tracking
>  evacuees by managing them as we do with our
circulating items in a
>  multi-branch system.  An evacuee would arrive in the
SuperDome
>  (Technical Services/Central Library), provide personal
information
>  (patron module is included in the circulation system),
be issued a
>  barcode as a bracelet or a necklace, and dispatched to
a remote branch
>  via some form of public transit, mirroring our
inter-branch book
>  movements.  (Joe checks in, is dispatched to Houston
Central, and is
>  checked back in at Houston Central when his bus,
train, or car arrives.)
>  
>  Once arrived at Houston Central, the evacuee could be
"borrowed" by a
>  temporary housing facility ("Houston East
Relocation Center #2").
>  Evacuees can then be accounted for using our standard
library
>  circulation modules with some cross-matching on home
addresses to find
>  family members.
>  
>  Use of a circulation system should NEVER look like it
came out of a
>  library - we don't want to lose our hard-earned
reputation for keeping
>  patrons' personal data private.  Perhaps it would be
even better if
>  local disaster teams were trained to operate the
system.  
>  
>  We professionals understand logistics on this
magnitude, the technology
>  is proven, and it's available immediately.  Vendors
might even offer
>  this as a free offer as an inducement to purchase.  
>  
>  I seem to recall reading that Sirsi/Dynix libraries
had some of their
>  Gulf Coast systems moved to offsite locations, with
the vendor acting as
>  an ASP.  As long as a center for displaced persons has
power, an
>  alternate Internet connection (high-speed connections
through Sprint,
>  Verizon, and Cingular might work shortly after a
disaster) to reach the
>  ASP's site, and staff who have been trained to gather
information, we
>  could make a tool familiar to us work to the greater
good of the
>  community.
>  
>  John Marquette
>  
>  I speak for myself, not my employer.
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