Risk Management & Mitigation Flashcards

Which environmental monitoring parameter is most critical for preventing mold growth in archival storage areas?

Answer: Relative humidity below 65%

Relative humidity above 65% creates conditions favorable for mold growth, making it the most critical parameter to control.

An archivist discovers that a sprinkler head directly above irreplaceable manuscript boxes is leaking slightly. What is the FIRST action to take?

Answer: Place waterproof covers over the boxes while notifying facilities simultaneously

Protecting the collection from immediate water damage while simultaneously notifying the responsible party addresses both urgent protection and proper procedure.

What does the term 'inherent vice' refer to in the context of archival risk management?

Answer: The tendency of materials to deteriorate due to their own chemical composition

Inherent vice refers to the natural instability of materials due to their own chemical makeup, such as the acidity in wood-pulp paper.

A risk register for an archival repository should be reviewed and updated at what minimum frequency?

Answer: Annually

Risk registers should be reviewed at least annually to ensure identified risks remain current and mitigation strategies are effective.

Which of the following best describes a 'residual risk' in archival risk management?

Answer: Risk that remains after all mitigation measures have been applied

Residual risk is the remaining level of risk after controls and mitigation strategies have been implemented.

When prioritizing salvage operations after a flood, archivists should FIRST recover which type of materials?

Answer: Unique and irreplaceable items with highest research value

Salvage priority should be given to unique, irreplaceable materials with the highest intrinsic or research value that cannot be recovered through other means.

What is the purpose of conducting a 'tabletop exercise' in the context of archival disaster planning?

Answer: Discussing and walking through response scenarios to identify gaps in the plan

A tabletop exercise is a discussion-based simulation where staff walk through disaster scenarios to identify weaknesses in the emergency response plan.