Safety by Design

Your library should be an inviting and beautiful safe haven. In this webinar, you will learn how effective security solutions work seamlessly with your vision to create welcoming and inclusive spaces. An experienced security consultant will share the four fundamental principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): 1) natural surveillance (criminals do not like to be seen); 2) natural access control (clearly define public and private spaces); 3) territorial reinforcement (an environment that fosters privacy and a sense of ownership); and 4) maintenance (upkeep to discourage vandalism and other crimes). Librarians from Buffalo NY and Columbus OH will place these principles in context through two case studies with real-world security scenarios. An architect with 30 years of library planning experience will then show specific examples where programmatic and aesthetic goals aligned with safety and security concerns.

Learning Outcomes:

Attendees will learn the four fundamental principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED):

1. natural surveillance (criminals do not like to be seen);
2. natural access control (clearly define public and private spaces);
3. territorial reinforcement (an environment that fosters privacy and a sense of ownership); and
4. maintenance (upkeep to discourage vandalism and other crimes).

Who Should Attend: Library staff interested in library design and safety elements.

Presenters:

Rick Amweg is a staff consultant with a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management and a BA in Social and Behavioral Sciences from The Ohio State University. He holds both Advanced Professional Certification and Professional Development Certification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. Rick has over 40 years of experience working in a higher education public safety/emergency management setting. He is certified as an Ohio peace officer and is a member of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the International Association of Emergency Managers. He also served on the Ohio Homeland Security Advisory Council, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, and on the U.S. Department of Education CLERY/VAWA Negotiated Rule-Making Committee. Adding to this seasoned career, he has testified before the US Senate on matters of school safety and security.

Jeannine Purtell has worked for the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library for 12 years, starting as Assistant Deputy Director for Human Resources/Labor Relations, taking the role of COO in 2018. Prior to joining the library, she served as Deputy Director of Labor Relations for Erie County and as an Assistant County Attorney with a focus on litigation and employment law. She is a licensed attorney and licensed NYS Security Guard.

Wendy Tressler, M.Ed., MLIS has worked in a variety of leadership roles at Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). She currently leads construction, facilities, technology, and lean/operational excellence projects for the library’s 24-building system. Including leading the library’s $275M+ building program including work on 18 buildings that includes the renovation of six libraries (including Main) and 12 new buildings. Ms. Tressler has served in a variety of roles in the OLC , ALA, and Core, including the B&O Section and Core Forum '22 Chair. Wendy is serving as Core, a division of ALA, President from 2023-2024.

Rick Ortmeyer is an architect with 32 years of professional experience, all of which has been in service of public sector clients, providing him a deep understanding of the opportunities and responsibilities inherent to institutions supported through public funding. His work includes over 94 library planning and design projects nationally, 61 of which are with Bostwick Design Partnership since he joined the firm in 2003.

Meagan Dutczak is an architect with 11 years of experience focusing almost exclusively on public library planning and design, including 23 library projects in 7 states. Her work since joining Bostwick Design in 2021 includes libraries in Cleveland Heights, Columbus, and Norwalk OH. She has specific expertise in transforming historic and Carnegie libraries into buildings capable of delivering 21st century learning to the communities they serve.