POISE UNDER FIRE:

DEALING WITH PROBLEM SITUATIONS

AND

MANAGEMENT DURING EMERGENCIES

Revised and Edited By Robert D. Willits, Manager Pascagoula Public Library

Second Edition

December 1996

FOREWORD

Time was when about all we in the world of librarianship had to worry about was keeping grubby little fingers off neatly arranged books or making sure that we had identical information stored in at least three separate locations. But no longer. Libraries of all sizes are either voluntarily confronting and accepting, or being dragged kicking and screaming, into the last few remaining years of the 20th Century. Either way, the increased usage by a burgeoning group of information-conscience clients, the impact of sophisticated technology of all kinds on our work-place, the rapid expansion of our facilities and services, and the fact that we are not immune to problems facing society as a whole, has resulted in increased problem situations and emergencies. "Poise Under Fire" was prepared to assist the employees of the Jackson-George Regional Library System to confront, and respond, to these problems and situations head-on.

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