Special Library Safety Training Program

The Safe Library:
A Special Offer on Service, Safety, and Security Training
Three 1-hour Sessions

OVERVIEW

These three professional recordings are presented by library author, trainer, and security expert Dr. Steve Albrecht. The program is designed to be an essential and affordable all-staff core training on library service, safety, and security, and can be utilized as an integral part of new-staff training or as an annual service, safety, and security refresher for existing staff. 

This program’s special pricing is designed to allow libraries of all sizes to be able to access this critical training. Dr. Albrecht has 25 years of experience creating a safe library spaces for staff and patrons. He covers serious issues, from patron harassment, behavioral issues, conflicts, thefts, emergencies, and situations of extreme danger. He also addresses helping libraries build a framework of thinking about safety and security to minimize staff fears, anxieties, and concerns, and show how management and staff can build a workplace with more peace of mind and better morale. 

Each recording is available for an annual license of $500, with a discounted price for purchasing all three of $1,000. Please use the form HERE to purchase or request more information.

RECORDING OUTLINES & LEARNING OBJECTIVES

RECORDING 1 - “Basic Safety & Security”

• Basic Principles
• Essential Safety and Security
  • Security is everybody's responsibility
  • The "Duty of Care" for those we bring inside the building, including for staff
  • Safety and security plans: knowing them and practicing them
  • Reporting security or safety incidents
  • Knowing building safety procedures
  • Rural library security and safety
• Emergencies
  • Preparing for natural disasters
  • Collection protection: thefts, vandalism, fire, and other disasters
  • Medical events
  • Bomb, phone, and social media threats, and acts of intimidation
• Rare but Catastrophic Situations
  • Being prepared for an active shooter
  • Protecting patrons and staff
• Safety and Security Myths

RECORDING 2 - “Challenging Patrons”

• Basic Principles
• The Top 10 Most Challenging Patrons
  • The Essential 8: Are we being firm, fair, legal, consistent, assertive, patient, empathic, and reasonable?
  • Knowing your community resources for the homeless, for mental health issues, and for social support
  • Handling Complaints
• Awkward Conversations
  • Handling hard discussions with patrons
  • Using tactful assertiveness
  • Knowing your library code of conduct using it to set boundaries with patrons
• Behavioral Issues
  • Having hard but necessary conversations with patrons
  • Minimizing anger, arguments, and threats
  • Real tools for conflict resolution
  • Good kids, bad behavior
• Stressful Situations
  • Identifying and planning for main challenges and challenging patrons
  • Building your communication skills
  • Strategies for helping people who are struggling
  • Holding “crucial conversations”
  • Strategically aligning different staff strengths
  • Interacting with the homeless with patience and empathy
  • Patrons with a trauma history
• Tense, Disruptive, or Difficult Situations
  • Training to be able to handle the most difficult situations
  • Distinguishing between fears and actual likely outcomes
  • Mandated reporting - child abuse, dependent adult abuse, and elder abuse
  • Mental health issues
• Dangerous Behaviors
  • De-escalating dangerous, high intensity, or high-emotion situations
• Your Relationship with the Police
  • Engaging with the police–when and how

RECORDING 3 - “Safe and Supportive Work Cultures”

• Basic Principles
• Returning to Library Civility
• Preventing Sexual and Racial Harassment
  • Creating a sexual/racial harassment-prevention environment and a self-protection mindset among staff and library managers and supervisors
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
• A Service Mindset
  • The reality of being in a high-stress customer service job.
• Mental Health and Well-being
  • Stress Management
• Thinking Ahead
  • Taking time to train.
  • Better outcomes for staff meeting.
  • Knowing the system in your library for suggestions, improvements, and making changes.
  • Reporting and documenting
  • Staff service, safety, and security committees.