I’ve been thinking a lot about library security issues in the wake of the horrific shootings at Virginia Tech. Like many of you, I tend to think of academic settings as safe and secure environments and for the most part, thankfully, they are. However academic settings, including law libraries, are not immune from violent crime and we librarians have a duty to our staff and patrons to ensure that we’re taking the reasonable and necessary steps to help prevent violent acts from occurring in our libraries.
So what can we academic law librarians do to help prevent and minimize the potential for violent acts from occurring in our libraries? The book Library Security and Safety Handbook (American Library Association, 1999) by Bruce Shuman makes the following recommendations to help us work toward this goal: 1) hire security, 2) restrict access, 3) be aware of building flaws, 4) establish rules, and 5) prepare a security manual. In this article, I briefly discuss how Shuman’s recommendations can help us address this important challenge.
Shuman strongly recommends hiring security to help protect against violent actions. Since academic law libraries are usually part of a larger university with its own security guards, we’re most likely already following his recommendation. However, how we academic law librarians use our security guards can vary dramatically from law library to law library. For example, some law libraries have their security guards check patron’s bags as they walk in the door; others simply have security guards patrol on a regular basis and make themselves available in an emergency. These differences are a reflection of the various settings that our law libraries are found in (e.g., urban, suburban, or rural/self-standing or campus setting). And it’s important to keep in mind that since our libraries are often open late and staffed by students, we are probably the most susceptible location for violence in the law school. We academic law librarians are responsible for making sure that the law school’s security guards provide adequate and appropriate coverage of our libraries to help lessen the risk of violence.
Another suggestion Shuman makes to help increase library security is to institute policies that restrict access to certain patrons and/or areas of the library. However, restricting access to libraries is not without controversy. Many view it as a serious violation of our profession’s tradition of providing open access to information. In addition to these ethical concerns, many law libraries are also federal depository institutions and as depository institutions, any restrictions on access must allow public access to these materials. Shuman also discusses restrictions on access to certain portions of the library (such as floors, sections, or rooms). This might be appropriate for those sections of our libraries that are more prone to security problems, such as out-of-the-way stacks or infrequently-used areas of the library. However, policies restricting access to a portion of the library can be difficult to enforce and may not offer much protection against someone intent on violence or other security problems.
Shuman also recommends being aware of and paying particular attention to building flaws, such as dim lighting and narrow bookshelf corridors. These places might offer a hiding place for someone intent on harm or violence. This problem is particularly acute at large academic libraries with older buildings and stacks that were closed at one time but are now open. I suspect it’s less of problem for most academic law libraries because our libraries tend to be smaller and newer. However, most academic law libraries still offer quiet, out-of-the way places that are perfect for studying - and also perfect for criminal acts, including violence. Locating these areas and ensuring that staff and security guards pay particular attention to them may help increase security.
Establishing clear rules of behavior is another suggestion Shuman makes to help increase the personal safety of library patrons and staff. He believes that when a library’s rules of behavior are known and publicized and violations of those rules are consistently addressed, problems that may lead to violence are less likely to get out-of-hand. Some of the rules he mentions, such as prohibiting gambling, horseplay, etc., are more appropriate for a public library than an academic library, but some of his other suggestions, such as prohibitions against carrying weapons and public drunkenness, are common-sense policies for academic law libraries to consider. In other words, we should know what our university’s rules are about guidelines for behavior, develop additional rules appropriate for our libraries, and make sure that security guards and staff are aware of and enforce those rules.
Shuman thinks the most important step a library can make to help protect against violence in our libraries is to develop a security manual. He regards a security manual as the “most fundamental and inexpensive precaution in personal safety in libraries” and strongly advocates that all libraries have a fully thought-out and workable version. He recommends drafting it with a lawyer or university counsel guidance and periodically checking to make sure it’s being followed and that appropriate changes are made when necessary. In an academic law library setting, it makes sense for our security manuals to be closely aligned with general university and law school guidelines, but having a manual for the law library itself is a great way to ensure that the entire staff is fully invested and aware of the appropriate security measures to take in an emergency. While he doesn’t recommend a particular template, he does recommend including certain features, such as security guard training, programs for regular surveillance, behavior guidelines, and evaluation of available security systems. Further information about how to draft a security manual is explained in his book.
Unfortunately, we can’t always stop violent actions in our library. But, sometimes a tragic event like the one at Virginia Tech can act as a reminder of its potential and prompt us to evaluate what we can do to protect the personal safety of our patrons and staff. Shuman’s recommendations offer a plan of action to help us realize this goal.