University library: risk analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we highlight the concepts of risk, danger and vulnerability in the scenario of the Central Library Santa Monica (BCMON), with the main goal of analyzing the risks that this space may pose to its visitors, its heritage and its historical memory. In this sense, BCMON was selected, among others, because it is the main and oldest library of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU). Therefore, the methodology used had a qualitative approach, with exploratory nature. Still, we selected as a reference base a work by Spinelli and Pedersoli Jr., Safety Inspection Report - (RIS) 25/2013 -, Minas Gerais Fire Department’s technical instructions, Preliminary Visual Inspection Report and publications of the Preventive Conservation Project for Libraries and Archives. From this, we conducted a survey by observing the physical structure, as well as furniture and equipment that make up the library. Thus, we note how vulnerable are the building, the collection under its guard and those who transit the site. Among the ten agents established by Spinelli and Pedersoli Jr., which characterize and define the types of risks, the study has found that the BCMON  has seven. A necessary action would be the construction of a risk map and investment in fire prevention and fire prevention actions, among others, that will minimize the danger, the crisis and, finally, the damage.