Traumatic Events

Traumatic Events in the Library:
Coping Skills and Tools for Library Leaders and Staff
Part of the Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security Series with Dr. Steve Albrecht

OVERVIEW: 

Bad things can happen in good libraries. Whether it’s a patron having a serious medical incident in the building, or a staff member passing away after a long illness, or a screaming threat from a patron to “shoot up the place,” or a bomb threat sent through social media--we are all just one event away from the fears, anxieties, and the connected traumatic feelings these can create.

We know from stories around the country that libraries have had to deal with an elderly patron being run over and killed by another elderly patron in the parking lot. They have had to watch paramedics work in vain to revive a fentanyl user. They have had to deal with domestic violence perpetrators threatening patrons or staff. And they have had to deal with the death of a longtime and beloved staff member.

We need to have policies and protocols in place, including access to trauma-trained mental health professionals, who may need to debrief groups of employees who have witnessed something horrible and stressful.

LEARNING AGENDA: 

  • Understanding normal human reactions to highly abnormal events. “Getting back to work” might take a lot of time.
  • Discussing the value and need for Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to provide confidential support to all staff.
  • How trauma specialists run small-group debriefs after a disturbing incident.
  • How and where library staff can get access to other mental health resources, especially if you don’t have an EAP provider.
  • Stress management and trauma awareness tools to help build resilience for all employees.

DATE: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 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: 

Email address of attendee:
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.
DR. STEVE ALBRECHT


Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, and security. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons.

He has written 27 books, including: Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities (ALA, 2015); The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023); The Library Leader’s Guide to Human Resources: Keeping it Real, Legal, and Ethical (Rowman & Littlefield, May 2025); and The Library Leader's Guide to Employee Coaching: Building a Performance Culture One Meeting at a Time (Rowman & Littlefield, June 2026).

Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment.
He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with seven dogs and two cats.

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.