Safety and Security in Your Library

Do you work alone at your library?
Do you work at night? 
Do you work with the public?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then there are times you are at risk when you are at work. 

But luckily there are steps you can take to make you and your workplace safer.

If you are a solo librarian, find a buddy in town that you can call when you need back up. Make it someone who can be there in seconds and put them on speed dial or listed 1st in your contacts.

If you work at night, always work with someone else. Close together, lock up together and leave the building together. Make sure your outdoor lighting is bright.

Keeping safe while working with the public is on a case by case basis. However, there are some good resources for you:

Albrecht, Steve. (2015) Library security : better communication, safer facilities. American Library Association. 9780838913307

Graham, Warren Davis. (2012) The black belt librarian : real-world safety & security. American Library Association. 9780838911372.

Khan, Miriam. (2008) The library security and safety guide to prevention, planning, and response. ALA Editions. 9780838909492

Mallery, Mary. (2015) Technology disaster response and recovery planning : a LITE guide. ALA
TechSource. 9780838913154.