This is a group viewing of an ALA Webinar, to be viewed at the Middletown Library Service Center, 786 South Main St., Middletown. The archived version of this webinar will only be made available to attendees of the group viewing, per ALA rules.

As important as it is to try to prevent library security incidents, it’s not always possible to avoid them, and the way you respond when they happen is crucial. Dr. Steve Albrecht, a security expert and former police officer, will show you how to respond effectively.

This session will take the top 10 security, behavior, crime, or emergency-related incidents that occur in libraries and describe the issues, the concerns, and the responses surrounding them. Many of the scenarios will involve challenging or problem-inducing patrons, and others will discuss responses to events that staff might not always know how to deal with properly.

These include:

• Angry, challenging, threatening, or eccentric patrons;
• Unruly kids or difficult teenagers with and without their parents’ present;
• Patrons with personal or sexual boundary problems with staff (stalking, flirting, hanging out, doing research about staff);
• Domestic violence involving patrons or staff members and how you handle situations when the perpetrator comes to the library;
• Homeless (who may bring their bags, pets, and friends with them);
• Mentally ill patrons with and without their caregivers;
• Gang members (who may use the library to recruit, steal, bully, or hang out);
• Substance abusers;
• Patrons who misuse the Internet (by stalling, hogging, or bringing up restricted content);
• Patrons who constantly violate library rules (eating, talking, smoking, pets, or sleeping);
• Emergency situations (involving first-aid, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, active shooters, and other first-responder situations).

About the Instructor

Dr. Steve Albrecht, PHR, CPP, BCC, is board certified in HR, security management, and employee coaching. In 1994, he co-wrote Ticking Bombs, one of the first business books on workplace violence. He holds a doctorate in Business Administration, an M.A. in Security Management, a B.S. in Psychology, and a B.A. in English. He worked for the San Diego Police Department from 1984 to 1999 and is the author of 15 books on business, workplace security, and criminal justice topics.