Library Security Issues and Policies Patron access and protection: Staff Security: Mitigating Actions By John R. Sanders LIS Aug 2004

Patron access and protection To ensure data integrity by preventing data from being inappropriately changed or deleted. To ensure data integrity by preventing data from being inappropriately changed or deleted.

Patron access and protection To protect confidentiality by ensuring private information is kept private. To protect confidentiality by ensuring private information is kept private.

Patron access and protection To ensure data access. To ensure data access.

Patron access and protection Patron protection from third party. (Patron V Patron) Patron protection from third party. (Patron V Patron)

Patron access and protection Patron physical protection procedures Patron physical protection procedures The library security guidelines document can be found on the ALA web site. The library security guidelines document can be found on the ALA web site. urity.htm urity.htm

Staff Security: Libraries have the responsibility to protect their staff as well as patrons. Libraries have the responsibility to protect their staff as well as patrons.

Staff Security: Several different reports place unruly patrons as the top security problem. Several different reports place unruly patrons as the top security problem.

Staff Security: Security policy should entail details regarding staff parking, building entrances and exits. Security policy should entail details regarding staff parking, building entrances and exits.

Mitigating Actions: American Library Association has established a Library Bill of Rights as well as a Library Code of ethics. American Library Association has established a Library Bill of Rights as well as a Library Code of ethics.

Mitigating Actions: Effective security policies do not happen overnight. Effective security policies do not happen overnight. Make Risk Assessments Make Risk Assessments Review existing policy Review existing policy Create the security policy as a living document Create the security policy as a living document Train staff regarding current and new policy Train staff regarding current and new policy

Mitigating Actions: People People Staff- what does it cost to find train and employee Staff- what does it cost to find train and employee Patrons- Without patrons there is no library Patrons- Without patrons there is no library

Mitigating Actions: Collection- Collection- Information – books, journals, images and so forth Information – books, journals, images and so forth Intellectual property Intellectual property Computer hardware Computer hardware Computer software Computer software Building Building

Mitigating Actions: The review of current policies should also include the removal of ineffective, old and out dated material The review of current policies should also include the removal of ineffective, old and out dated material

Mitigating Actions: Verbally Abusive or Aggressive Patron If a patron exhibits verbally abusive or aggressive behavior such as yelling, swearing or threatening the staff member, the staff member should say, "This is no longer productive and I am stopping this conversation. I am calling my supervisor to deal with this situation." If a patron exhibits verbally abusive or aggressive behavior such as yelling, swearing or threatening the staff member, the staff member should say, "This is no longer productive and I am stopping this conversation. I am calling my supervisor to deal with this situation." Staff member should alert supervisor to the situation so that it may be handled from this point. Staff member should alert supervisor to the situation so that it may be handled from this point. If there is no supervisor available, call another colleague to assist with situation. If there is no supervisor available, call another colleague to assist with situation. Record incident in the Log Book Record incident in the Log Book

Conclusion security policy will effect the perception security policy will effect the perception perception can and often will effect the operation perception can and often will effect the operation security policy will impact the finances security policy will impact the finances security risk = reduced usage =financial pinch security risk = reduced usage =financial pinch Poorly written security policies or no policy will increase liability exposure, again creating financial hardship. Poorly written security policies or no policy will increase liability exposure, again creating financial hardship.

References: 1999 Brooklyn Law School Brooklyn Law Review, 1999, 65 Brooklyn L. Rev Brooklyn Law School Brooklyn Law Review, 1999, 65 Brooklyn L. Rev. 827 Sheridan, L. W People in libraries as security agents. Library & Archival Security 3(1): Sheridan, L. W People in libraries as security agents. Library & Archival Security 3(1): tm tm tm tm ics.ala ics.ala ics.ala ics.ala ml ml ml ml