I: The nature of the problem -- The origins of disaster -- II: Dealing with disasters -- Preparing for, withstanding and overcoming disaster -- Fire prevention -- Organization of emergency services -- Available resources -- III: Emergency treatment of materials -- The problem -- Susceptible materials and preparation for disaster -- Assessment of needs following a disaster -- Emergency treatment of library and archive materials -- Emergency treatment of photographic materials, tapes and phonorecord discs -- Emergency treatment of textiles -- Emergency treatment of leather -- Emergency treatment of wood objects (including furniture, musical instruments and wood panel paintings) -- Emergency treatment of oil paintings -- Emergency treatment of ceramics, glass, metals and stone -- Emergency treatment of biological materials -- Emergency treatment of ethnographic materials -- Suppliers of equipment and materials