dPlan™: A Free Template for Writing Disaster Plans
 
NEDCC and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) have created dPlan, a free online program to help institutions write comprehensive disaster plans. dPlan provides an easy-to-use template that allows museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions of all sizes to develop a customized plan that includes:

•dPlan™: The Online Disaster-Planning Tool
•disaster response procedures
•salvage priorities
•preventive maintenance schedules
•current contact information for staff and emergency personnel
•sources of emergency supplies and services
•insurance checklists
•electronic data backup and restoration procedure

dPlan can serve the needs of small institutions without in-house preservation staff, library and museum systems that need to develop separate but related plans for multiple locations, and state agencies that need to structure training programs on disaster planning.

Each institution’s password-protected plan is stored on a secure server. An automatic e-mail is sent every six months with a reminder to update the plan.
 
To use dPlan or to view the introductory demo, go to www.dplan.org or click on the icon, above.
 
Development of dPlan was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.