Assessing The Black Belt Librarian: An Overview of Warren Graham’s Book
A Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security Webinar with Dr. Steve Albrecht
OVERVIEW:
In 2012, Warren Graham published his book, The Black Belt Librarian: Real-World Safety and Security, with the ALA. His contribution to library safety and security was based on his work as a library security manager in North Carolina. His book, although brief at just 80 pages, set a standard for library security programs that focused on patron behavioral issues and reasonable responses by library leaders and staff.
Like Steve Albrecht’s previous Library 2.0 webinar focusing on Dr. George Thompson’s book and workshop known as Verbal Judo, this session will examine Graham’s approach to library security. This session will review his book and compare his tools to Steve Albrecht’s contributions to the field of keeping library staff, patrons, collections, and facilities safe and secure.
LEARNING AGENDA:
- Defining Graham’s use of the "black belt" metaphor, as being about staying calm, using practiced responses, predicting behavioral problems, intervening early, and staying in control.
- Understanding how and why Graham states that libraries are public spaces first, so safety planning has to assume a wide range of behaviors while preserving openness and access.
- A review of his theme that a successful library security program has 12 essential elements, including, among others: clear rules of conduct; consistent enforcement; staff training; documentation; and physical design choices that reduce risk.
DATE: Thursday, May 7th, 2026, 2:00 - 3:00 pm US - Eastern Time
COST:
- $99/person - includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate.
- To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
TO REGISTER:
Use the payment box above to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.
If you need to be invoiced or pay by check, if you have any trouble registering for a webinar, or if you have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.
NOTE: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.
SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):
- Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
- The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
- Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Library 2.0 or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained tens of thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, security, and leadership. His programs for both staff and library leaders are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace. His books include:
The Library Leader’s Guide to Employee Coaching: Building a Performance Culture One Meeting at a Time (in-press, Bloomsbury, 2026)
The Library Leader’s Guide to Human Resources: Keeping it Real, Legal, and Ethical (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025)
The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023)
Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities (ALA, 2015)
Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.S. in Psychology, and a B.A. in English. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment. He has written 28 books on business, security, and leadership. He provides a loving home for four rescue dogs.
More on The Safe Library at thesafelibrary.com. Follow on X (Twitter) at @thesafelibrary and on YouTube @thesafelibrary. Dr. Albrecht's professional website is drstevealbrecht.com.
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