The guard stood in front of the door of the bathroom and prevented people from entering until the library closed. When Jane asked her boss about what to do if a similar situation occurred again? Even relatively minimal training can make a librarian feel more confident about how to protect patrons in an active-shooter scenario. One librarian I spoke to said that the extent of his active-shooter training was watching a video and even that was helpful.
The organization has also taken strong positions on gun control and gun violence: at the mid-winter conference, the ALA Council passed a resolution on gun violence affecting libraries, library workers, and library patrons. But there are limits to what the ALA can do, however. The threat of a shooting in a library is real and serious. Equally serious attention, however, should be given to training staff in what most challenging patron encounters require: conflict de-escalation and resolution.
Many of us learn this on the job, but is that really the best way to provide service to our patrons? Although the examples I cite are among the more extreme, dedicated training in conflict de-escalation can help foster an overall sense of security in the library. More often than not, librarians are not tossed into the middle of full-blown physical fights, rather we try to tamp down minor skirmishes before they escalate. The more effectively we are able to do this, the better able we are to maintain a sense of equanimity and comfort in the library for other patrons.
The barrier to this kind of training is the same in most public libraries: funding. Libraries are simply not among the top priorities for government funding. With all of the important services and opportunities a public library offers a community, I cannot begin to rationalize why they are such a low priority.
I do know this: librarians are quick learners and nothing means more to us than providing the best possible service we can to our patrons. That service should include knowing how to handle these types of situations. Created by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature.
By Katie McBride. She is a contributing editor for Book Riot and writes an advice column about addiction for Paste Magazine. You can follow her on twitter at msmacb and find her work at www. Close to the Lithub Daily Thank you for subscribing! For libraries that do not yet have a robust set of policies and procedures, one good way to get started is to first read short general treatments of the subject with hints for addressing low-hanging fruit. Examples include publishing a clear code of acceptable conduct with consequences for violations; links to campus safety resources such as police sponsored student escort services; routines to follow in reporting loss of property i.
At a minimum, every academic library should have a page with tips on personal safety and security. Public libraries are often out in front of academic libraries on this subject, and much can be learned by perusing public library sites for tips and guidelines. Tips and videos on preparation and response to active shooter situations can be found at:. ALA has also produced LibGuides with helpful information for finding resources about gun violence, developing security in response to gun violence, and for understanding gun laws.
Like all library safety and security issues, gun laws and responding to gun violence are continually developing. Note: The Committee wishes to thank Mr. In more recent years, opioid abuse has become an epidemic within the U. Public libraries have probably confronted this issue more than academic libraries, but there is a wealth of information to draw upon from either perspective.
At first glance Social Justice would not appear to be a safety or security topic, but academic libraries should nevertheless contemplate how they want to represent themselves within this subject.
Such topics have become especially divisive on campuses, and with the central location that libraries typically occupy at their universities, libraries are uniquely situated to be a place that students and other patrons look to as a haven and as a resource for information. Staff can also encounter more dangerous conduct. Management must stand behind public services staff.
It is valuable for staff to have documentation of how and when to draw boundaries with problem patrons. That keeps [staff] in control and makes them feel accountable. Additionally, libraries should provide clear guidelines on expectations, for example offering policies for when staff should attempt to handle situations on their own, when they should contact management, and when they should call We do not—ever—tolerate bullying Libraries also may work with the police to provide valuable training, teaching staff skills for crisis management and increasing their ability to address challenging situations.
Annual staff days at Bozeman PL, for example, include law enforcement instruction that addresses common situations, such as how to de-escalate conflicts or how to approach individuals who are mentally ill or violent. Staff can also combat security concerns simply by remaining visible, according to Munn. Jennifer A. Prior to starting at Pratt, Dixon worked as a commercial litigator and federal law clerk in New York City. Posted : Dec 07, Posted : Dec 06, Posted : May 25, You did not sign in correctly or your account is temporarily disabled.
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Safety First Library Security. Dixon May 24, Filed in Leadership. Get Print. Get Digital. Get Both! Comment Policy: Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters.
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