Creating Safer Libraries: Foundations for Librarians and Frontline Staff

Librarians and frontline staff often have to be mediators in moments of high tension. Safety concerns are on the rise at libraries, and it can be difficult to know your options for managing these challenges. This course, intended for librarians and frontline staff, will teach you trauma-informed practices for handling safety concerns and conflict in order to promote safety in your library. Hurry, register before October 4th for the Early Bird rate!

Who should take this course: This course is for librarians and frontline staff to equip you with tactical safety strategies on the ground as you navigate safety risks, high tension, or conflict in the workplace.

Course Advisors

Bridget Quinn Carey, (she, her) President and CEO,

Hartford Public Library

Anthony Wilson, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Columbus Metropolitan Library

Course Program

Session 1 | 12:00-12:25 pm ET

Everyone’s Responsibility: Creating a Culture of Safety

Everyone has a role to play in creating a culture of safety in the library. While it starts from the top, frontline staff and other librarians must also help support and enact care and safety practices. This kick-off session will discuss ways that all library staff can work together to create safer, relationship-centered libraries.

Session 2 | 12:25-1:10 pm ET

Safer Libraries for Staff and Patrons: Trauma-Informed Librarianship

Trauma-informed practice is essential for creating an environment of safety and care. This session will teach you the foundations of trauma-informed principles to apply to your library especially, but not exclusively, in moments of crisis. These practices will be actionable and relevant whether you’re interacting with patrons, colleagues, or turning trauma-informed care toward yourself.

Session 3 | 1:15-2:00 pm ET

NARCAN Training: Recognizing and Managing Substance Abuse Incidents

How do you know when there is a substance abuse incident in your library? And what can you do to help diffuse the issue and support the patron if needed? This NARCAN training will teach you how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and administer the drug Naloxone, a medication that saves lives by reversing an overdose. Leave this session understanding your role in harm reduction in this public health crisis.

Session 4 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET

Centering Equity During Conflict

Between safety concerns and hostile patrons, tensions in and around libraries are at an all-time high. Research shows that implicit biases are more likely to surface and escalate during moments of tension and conflict. As a result, truly internalizing equity practices is key to centering equity during conflict. This session will discuss ways to ground yourself, recognize and deal with implicit bias, and respond rather than react in moments of conflict so that you remain aligned with your values.

Session 5 | 2:55-3:40 pm ET

Engaging with Tweens and Teens in Crisis (and Afterward)

A panel of experts on working with young adults outside the library profession will share insight from their own fields on how to manage and de-escalate situations involving tweens and teens in crisis. The panel will be moderated by a librarian and facilitated discussion after the panel will focus on how these insights from other fields can be put into practice in a library environment.

Session 6 | 3:45-4:30 pm ET

Conflict Resolution, Boundaries, and Self-Care in a Customer Service Role

Librarians and frontline staff often have to navigate tense or unsafe situations. How do you simultaneously attempt to resolve conflict and maintain your personal boundaries and self-care all while in a customer service role? How do you respond to an unruly patron, and at what point do you disengage and ask for support? This session will discuss conflict resolution and give you practical tips for identifying and articulating your boundaries as well as proactively scripting responses to incidents in your library.