Harnessing Web 2.0 and Cloud Computing in the Service of Disaster Response and Recovery

The underlying theme of many disaster response case studies is effective human resource management under challenging conditions. Disaster response in libraries often centers on the reaction to events, bringing to mind images of triage and salvage. However, an important component of preservation involves laying the groundwork for the human response to disaster. Central to human resource management during disaster response and recovery is the maintenance of open and rapid sharing of information between disaster responders. Cloud computing, by distributing communication technology infrastructure to the Internet, can facilitate collaboration and improve the chances for a satisfactory human response to disaster.