Creating a safe environment for the public, staff, and collections is a top concern for libraries. As a public space, this sometimes means that library staff are faced with behavior or events that may feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or illegal. Although we can’t predict or control every situation, we can be prepared to effectively respond to a range of scenarios. This session presents a holistic approach for creating safe environments through strong community relationships, inclusive policies, and empowered staff. Using a trauma-informed, human-centered lens, we explore strategies to create a library where staff possess the skills, and feel prepared, to manage what comes through the doors.

Presented by: Melissa Munn, Owner, Melissa Munn Consulting

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Related Resources and Links

• American Library Association resources
• Safety and Security in Libraries
• Gun Violence and Libraries
• Creating Safer Libraries, Public Libraries Online, 2021
• New Trends in Library Security, American Libraries, 2017
• Public Library Social Work—Overview of Trauma-Informed Care (pdf), created by PLA Social Work Taskforce
  
• OCLC's Public Health Crisis Playbook
• The Library’s Unique Role in Reimagining Public Safety, Urban Libraries Council, 2021
  
• Libraries are reimagining what public safety and access to resources look like, Prism, 2022
• No Holds Barred: Policing and Security in the Public Library, In the Library with the Lead Pipe, 2019
• Crosswalk: Youth Thrive & Healing Centered Engagement, Center for the Study of Social Policy, 2021
• On Trauma Stewardship
• Mental Health First Aid and Trauma-Informed Approaches for Libraries, WebJunction webinar
• 3 Realms of ACEs
• Verbal Defense & Influence, basic manual presentation
• Suffolk Libraries highlights how it can help tackle anxiety, May 2023
• Other related WebJunction webinars and articles
  
• Eliminating Library Fines: Improving Community Access, Equity and Usage, WebJunction webinar
• Whole Person Librarianship: Fostering Empathy in Challenging Times, WebJunction webinar
• Universal Design at Your Library, WebJunction webinar
• Mental Health First Aid and Trauma-Informed Approaches for Libraries, WebJunction webinar
• Today I Bent a Rule: Barrier Identification Staff Survey at Halifax Public Libraries
• Shared in Chat
  
• Whole Person Librarianship, the Hub for Library-Social Work Collaboration
• ImaginOn Safe Visitor Philosophy
• Kulture City, creating sensory accessibility and inclusion for those with invisible disabilities
  
• The Future of Healing: Shifting From Trauma Informed Care to Healing Centered Engagement, Shawn Ginwright, 2018
  
• Crisis Prevention Institute
• Ryan Dowd training (for fee): Body Odor: How to talk about odor without awkwardness
• Crisis Reality Training with Jesus Villahermosa
• Infopeople course in the WebJunction Course Catalog, Active Shooter Procedures for Libraries
• Mental Health First Aid
• A Trauma-Informed Framework for Supporting Patrons: The PLA Workbook of Best Practice