Keep Calm and Save the Archives: Emergency Planning and Disaster Response

Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists 2025 Annual Conference

Is your institution ready to face the unexpected? From small-scale disruptions like water leaks or power outages to catastrophic threats like wildfires or natural disasters, archives and cultural heritage organizations must be prepared to protect their collections and respond with confidence. Join the Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists for a dynamic one-day conference, Keep Calm & Save the Archives, where you'll gain the tools, insights, and support needed to strengthen your institution’s resilience. Dive into interactive discussions on disaster recovery, emergency planning, risk assessment, and hear from peers who have navigated emergencies and lived to tell the tale. Let’s create a culture of preparedness—before the next crisis strikes!

Be Prepared: Get Started on Writing Your Disaster Plan!

Amanda Benson, Sweetwater County Historical Museum

One of the hardest parts of writing a disaster preparedness plan is to sit down and write it. This workshop will focus on the prevention and preparation stages of disaster planning by reflecting on past incidents, identifying risks and mission-critical functions, and create a preventative actions plan based on these risks.

Our Nightmare Before Christmas: Surviving Catastrophic Leaks

Aly Jabrocki, Sam Schiller, Paul Levitt, & Jennifer Simmons, Colorado State Archives

Panelists from the Colorado State Archives will share their firsthand experience managing a catastrophic water leak on Christmas Eve, which impacted 8,000 cubic feet of archival records. They will discuss the challenges faced, the response efforts undertaken, and the lessons learned from this archival disaster.

Disasters Big and Small, A.K.A. Renovation Diaries

Sarah Ganderup, Denver Public Library

The recent renovation of the Denver Central Library was a wide-ranging and sometimes fast-moving project with unexpected impacts. This included large-scale debris that redefined the “dusty basement” and a mold event that struck fear into our hearts. This case study will discuss both experiences, including mid-crisis decision-making and lessons learned.

Who You Gonna Call? Cultural & Historic Resources Task Force!

Carl Stewart & Julie Page, Colorado Cultural & Historical Resources Task Force

Learn about the CHRTF, the resources and help available in an emergency, the GIS mapping project, and Top Ten Things to Know Before Disaster Strikes!

Details

Date: Friday, April 25th, 2025, from 9:30AM - 4:00 PM

Location: Philip and Jerry Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox, Castle Rock, CO

Members: $55

Nonmembers: $75

Students: $30

The price of registration includes morning coffee and snacks, and lunch.

Lunch order deadline: April 18th, 2025

Click here to register!

Note: registration will be capped at 75 participants.