Safe Library Basic Training

The Safe Library Basic Training:
An Affordable All-Staff "Bootcamp" for Service, Safety, and Security
3 x 1-hour Sessions

OVERVIEW

This three-part professional development series, available as recordings to be watched without expiration, is 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. 

The program’s pricing and its unlimited-access licensing are designed to allow libraries of all sizes to be able to offer staff this critical training. Dr. Albrecht has 23 years of experience keeping create a safe library space, for staff and patrons. He will cover serious issues, from patron harassment, behavioral issues, conflicts, thefts, emergencies, and situations of extreme danger. He will also address 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. 

As the program is being recorded live with additional Q&A time, it can also be attended by registrants in real-time if wanted over three weeks in January (one-hour session per week). A certificate of attendance will be available to those who need professional development hours or who need to comply with any requirements for staff safety and emergency training.

FORMAT:

Each of the three one-hour sessions will be held online and live for those who want to attend at the time, followed by up to an additional hour of Q&A. The entire 3 hours of basic training, as well as the Q&A sessions, will be provided as recordings and available without expiration to all staff at registered libraries or institutions. The handouts and slides will be available for download after the session.

RECORDING & RELEASE DATES:

The three individual sessions plus Q&A will be recorded January 12, 19, and 26th (Fridays) from 2:00 - 3:00 pm US Eastern Time. The recordings will be published and available to registrants on the Monday following each recording. The recordings of the Q&A sessions will be posted as separate files.

PROGRAM OUTLINE & LEARNING OBJECTIVES

SESSION 1 - “Basic Safety & Security”
(LIVE on FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 PM US-EASTERN TIME)

• 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

SESSION 2 - “Challenging Patrons”
(LIVE on FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 PM US-EASTERN TIME)

• 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

SESSION 3 - “Safe and Supportive Work Cultures”
(LIVE on FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 PM US-EASTERN TIME)

• 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.

All prices are the package price for a library, library system, or organization, and are based on your total number of staff. The packages include unlimited individual or group viewing and non-expiring access to the recorded sessions (and live access if wanted). All-access passholders will receive separate information about this training as it will be included in your annual fee. Questions can be sent to admin@library20.com.

To register, to request a quotation or invoice, or to ask a question click HERE.