This book provides advice and support to help library employees best deal with sexually harassing patrons, unruly groups of students, gang members, thieves, Internet hogs, and others who can disrupt the safe library environment.
Since 2000, Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 25+ states, live and online, in service, safety, and security. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons. In 2015, the ALA published his book, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities. He is a frequent keynote speaker at regional and national library conferences, covering safety and security topics. Each month, he creates webinars, blogs, and podcasts for Library 2.0, a training and information site for over 65,000 library professionals. Steve has written or been interviewed for several national and international library publications. Albrecht holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat management. In 1994, the author co-wrote Ticking Bombs, one of the first business books on workplace violence prevention. His book was featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Albrecht has interviewed three workplace murderers in prison. He has developed an international reputation for his research, writing, speaking, and training on workplace violence, school violence, and domestic violence in the workplace. He has written 24 books on business, leadership, service, security, and criminal justice topics.
Dr. Albrecht plays an amazing and unique role with libraries and library staff. His trusted voice brings his years of security experience as well as a premier customer service trainer, to the important tasks of providing safety and security in the library, while also respecting and empathizing with both staff and patrons experiencing challenging moments. There is no one better, and this book will be the ready-reference standard for years to come. The Safe Library should be on the desk of every library director, manager, and supervisor. -- Steve Hargadon, Founder/CEO, Library 2.0, Asheville, NC The Safe Library should serve as an essential training manual for all library personnel. It offers urgent solutions for the most difficult problems facing libraries today. With his warm, witty, and engaging style, Dr. Albrecht shares research and experience-based best practices that makes this book necessary reading now. -- Gina Simmons Schneider, Psychotherapist, Schneider Counseling and Corporate Solutions I can't think of anyone else I would rely on for library security expertise. Steve's insight and books have driven many of my successful security plans. -- Donnie Campbell, Acting Director of Security, New York Public Library, New York City This is a very comprehensive book on library security. All library staff and library administration will gain valuable insights and practical solutions in approaching this ever-changing topic. -- Cindy S. Church, Continuing Education Consultant, Library of Virginia I have used Dr. Albrecht on numerous occasions for special training programs and found his workshops and books to be invaluable tools for libraries. The Safe Library can help you thoroughly examine how your library can address many of the old and new safety and security issues amplified by the pandemic, and the divisive behaviors that library boards, administration, and employees are sometimes dealing with on a daily basis from their users. Every library should invest in a copy of this book for their internal professional collection for their organization. -- Andrew Sanderbeck, Trainer and Consultant for Libraries, Founder, PCI Webinars, Largo, FL Steve is a library security professional and a skilled collaborator. He presents thought-provoking ideas on making libraries safe and his book is a practical tool for all library staff. Steve does not reinvent the wheel; he looks at all the wheels and brings those ideas together for the benefit of everyone. If you are working on safety and security in any library, public, private, law, or academic, you need this book, not on the shelf, but on your desk as a reference. It's worth the time to read it and the ideas inside just may save a life. -- Chester Price, Safety and Security Manager, Emergency Coordinating Officer, Jacksonville Public Library, Jacksonville, Florida As the world has been thrown into turmoil because of the pandemic, so have been libraries, librarians, and our patrons. Librarians have found themselves thrust into situations where while working in a state of crisis they are also desperately needed to provide for their patrons who are also in crisis. This has created environments of heightened stress and increases in the need for all library staff and stakeholders to do whatever possible to increase safety for all. Steve has become an expert in this area and addresses this with solid, practical descriptions and actionable advice for all libraries. This timely book is an essential read. -- Cindy Grove, Director, Rockport Public Library, Rockport, MA