The Safe Library

Considering best practices for library safety, this week's review walks through various patron scenarios to demonstrate de-escalation, communication, and customer service tools.

Posted on September 23, 2024 in Reviews of the Month

The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure

Albrecht, Steve. Rowman & Littlefield, 2023
196p bibl index, 9781538169599 $95.00, 9781538169605 $38.00, 9781538169612

Security and safety are critical issues everywhere, libraries included. School, public, and academic libraries all need to address security and safety needs, which may differ from library to library. Such concerns were not an issue until about 25 years ago, so schools of library and information science did not cover them. Albrecht is a specialist in this area, and he packs this book with all kinds of information librarians and staff need to know when dealing with emergencies and safety/security issues. Chapters cover such topics as homeless library users, working with those with mental challenges, rural safety, and dealing with an armed intruder. The scenarios the author presents will make for productive discussions. Excellent appendixes provide information about access, parking lot safety, and security tools. This book will be an excellent resource for information sciences classes, for local or national organization professional development, or for individual use on an as-needed basis. Although much of the book focuses on public libraries, the book is applicable to all libraries.

Summing Up: Essential. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, and professionals.
Reviewer: M. L. Strife, West Virginia University Tech/Beckley
Subject: Reference – Library & Information Sciences
Choice Issue: Jan 2024

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