[Libs-Or] security guards

[Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney]

Hi Ted,

As you know, I don't use security here, but we had municipal security guards in Philly. They were trained and hired by the library (big system), but we did use private security services when we had a sick guard or something like that. At the Free Library, the guards were also the janitorial staff for the library branches. My experience was that the presence of the guards mostly meant that we didn't have to deal directly with some of the problem behaviors, and they were trained in how to safely forcibly eject someone from the library if it became necessary (so probably reduced the number of police calls). Their presence also made staff feel safer. During the times we had to operate without a guard present, I didn't notice an uptick in problem behaviors.

One thing we did find was that the private security guards were vastly inferior to the library-trained guards; they were basically there as babysitters and weren't as helpful as the guards who had been trained to deal with library-specific issues. Also, the library-trained guards were generally from the neighborhood they were serving and the best ones had a really good understanding of the purpose of the library and its importance to the community. It's hard to overstate how important that was, given that we were introducing a "law and order" element.

Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney, MLIS
Library Director
Driftwood Public Library
801 SW Highway 101 #201
Lincoln City, OR 97367
Phone: 541-996-1251
kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org

From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Ted Smith
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 9:32 AM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [Libs-Or] security guards

For those of you using security guards in your libraries I have this question:  How has the presence of security guards impacted issues concerning misbehavior in the library.  Do you still have the same number and kinds of problems?
I'm speaking about mental health disturbances, drug dealing, homeless behaviors and other issues concerning the normal operation of the library.  My city manager would like some information as to the outcomes hoped for vs. those observed.  A

Is the only result that staff no longer have to be the bad guy enforcers/mediators in dealing with misbehaviors, in their various forms.

Also, are you using private security services, or do you have real cops in you library.  Thanks for your help.

Ted Smith, Director
Newport Public Library
Newport, OR 97365
541.574.0600

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