Review of The FIAF Disaster Handbook

In August 2024, FIAF supplemented its existing print and online resources with the publication of The FIAF Disaster Handbook.¹ Subtitled Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Audio-Visual Archives, the 176-page volume was edited by David Walsh, and Walsh along with 16 other world-renowned experts contributed chapters on their respective fields of expertise. The publication of this volume also marks the conclusion of Walsh’s tenure as FIAF’s Training and Outreach Coordinator, a position he held for eight years. The the elegantly designed volume is structured in three parts: the main part is comprises ten essays on various topics, the middle part is a glossary, and the last part consists of eight case studies. The handbook can be purchased as a paperback in a limited print edition or downloaded for free as a PDF file from the FIAF website.

The main chapters provide comprehensive coverage on how to assess the risks, how to develop a disaster plan with its emergency protocols, and how to respond when a disaster occurs with recovery and salvage techniques. The range of disasters covered is wide: from a local fire or water damage to regional storms and floods, and includes even earthquakes and armed conflicts. Not only traditional analogue media – photochemical film, magnetic tape, optical discs, and paper – are covered, but also the digital domain. The essential points are summarised for quick and easy reference in a series of flowcharts, diagrams, lists, and tables.

The case studies of events that occurred in the real world are invaluable. One must applaud the transparency and generosity that the archives who contributed their experiences have demonstrated. Twenty or thirty years ago, we also talked openly about failures. Then there came a time when we only talked about successes. We can now be happy that we seem to have arrived at the dawn of an era where it is once again possible to have in-depth discussions about disasters for the benefit of the entire community.

Overall, The FIAF Disaster Handbook is a highly valuable resource for the field, but there are two ways in which it could be improved (for a second expanded edition, for instance). Firstly, while the importance of disaster planning cannot be stressed enough, practical exercises on the rescue and recovery of cultural heritage damaged in the event of such a disaster must also be carried out and evaluated regularly. This allows, on the one hand, to check the soundness of the procedures and eliminate weak points and, on the other hand, to create the right reflexes among staff. It is very difficult to predict in advance which members of staff will react correctly in the event of a disaster and which will be overwhelmed by the reality of the situation. Therefore, if and when an emergency occurs, it should always be possible to change the chain of command if necessary. Checklists with step-by-step instructions would therefore be a welcome addition to a future improved and expanded edition.

The book would also benefit from a discussion of how to estimate the costs of disaster planning as well as of response and recovery training relative to the costs of the actual disaster recovery (and also relative to the value of the collections, but this is, of course, outside the scope of such a handbook). This information could prove useful to audio-visual archivists for convincing their management and funding body of the importance of disaster prevention.

Most importantly, audio-visual archives around the world should read the handbook immediately and start to implement the recommendations made by the contributors! Indeed, if one only begins to read it after the accident has occurred, then it is already too late …

Reto Kromer ²

Notes

1

David Walsh, ed., The FIAF Disaster Handbook: Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Audio-Visual Archives. Brussels: Fédération internationale des archives du film / Bloomington (Indiana): Indiana University Press, 2024. 176 pp. 16 b&w illus. Paperback. ISBN 978-0-9069-7388-2. Also available as a free PDF on the FIAF website.

2

The author became involved in audio-visual conservation and restoration thirty-nine years ago. His work has seen him honoured with one of the inaugural Joint Technical Symposium (JTS) Awards in 2019.

I wish to acknowledge the help provided by Oliver Hanley.

This review has been published in Journal of Film Preservation, n. 112 (April 2025), FIAF, Brussels, Belgium, p. 157–158 (a free online access is offered).

2025-04-24