Emergency Planning and Response, Texas-Style

Olivia Primanis received her training through an apprenticeship in hand book binding and book conservation beginning in 1974 with Jean Gunner at Hunt Botanical Library, Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh. Pa. In 1975 she founded and was the sole proprietor of "The Bookbinder" that offered artists' supplies, hand bookbinding (for area institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh Rare Book Collections) and classes in hand book binding. In 1984 she moved to Los Angeles, CA where she taught book conservation and consulted for area institutions, including The Clark Library (UCLA); Scripps College (Claremont) and the Getty Center and Museum. Following the L.A. Public Library fire, she consulted with Solex Inc on the drying of 160,000 books. From 1990 until January 2019, she held the position of Head of the Book Lab (Senior Conservator since 1991) at the Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin, where she performed conservation treatments, trained staff and interns, lectured, and participated in the administration of the Conservation Department. At this time, she is consulting on library preservation, performing book conservation treatments in her private business and, as a founding member, taking an active role in the activities of Texas Collections Emergency Response Alliance (TX-CERA).

Lauren Hainley is the Director, Disaster Service at the Houston Arts Alliance where she ensures that the Houston area arts, culture, and historic preservation communities are ready and resilient in the face of disaster. Lauren received a BA in Theater from Hendrix College and an MA in Arts Leadership from the University of Houston. Lauren has been active in the Houston theater community as an actor, stage manager, and director since 1992.  Find out more about Lauren, her work, and her projects at laurenhainley.com