We have had training from our local police, and a follow up training on safety & security of front desk staff from Career Track. Both were good. This is something that should involve multiple discussions and training. We plan to have our police back again (and asked them to sit in on our training so they'd hear what we were told). One thing you can do immediately is to have staff watch this YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VcSwejU2D0 or this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9nldEZv16k
They encapsulate what to do: Run Hide Fight
Dave
David L. Ewick
City Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen
Southfield, Michigan 48076
248 796-4300
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
Hi All,
Does anyone have a procedure for an active assault that you would be willing to share? I am particularly interested in libraries that do not have a security person in the building and/or those that are a distance from the nearest law enforcement
agency.
We had a Board member suggest that perhaps the library desk should stock pepper spray for emergencies (such as a person who enters the building and starts attacking patrons). It was suggested I find out what other libraries are doing to
train their staff and protect patrons in the event of an active assault of any kind.
We do have a Policy for patron behavior, but it assumes that staff will be able to approach the patron and ask them to leave and/or issue a verbal warning that they will be calling the police. In the question above, we are assuming that
reasoning with the person is not an option and response time may be long.
Thank you!
Megan