For immediate release | December 9, 2011
Effective security plans and the black belt librarian
CHICAGO —“The Black Belt Librarian: Real-World Safety & Security,” published by ALA Editions, arms librarians with the confidence and know-how they need to maintain a comfortable, productive and safe environment for everyone in the library. Sharing expertise gleaned from more than two decades as a library security manager, author Warren Graham demonstrates that libraries can maintain their best traditions of openness and public access by creating an unobtrusive yet effective security plan. In straightforward language, Graham:
- Shows how to easily set clear expectations for visitors’ behavior;
- Presents guidelines for when and how to intervene when someone violates the code of conduct, including tips for approaching an unruly person;
- Offers instruction on keeping persistent troublemakers under control or permanently barred from the library;
- Gives library staff tools for communicating effectively with its security professionals, including examples of basic documentation.
A security professional for more than 25 years, including 17 years as the security manager of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, N. C., Graham left the library in 2006 to establish Warren Davis Graham Training and Consulting. He has made numerous presentations and is a leading speaker internationally on practical day-to-day library security procedures.
ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.
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