MALA May 2019:
Creating a Safer Public Space
within Your Library 
Mary J. Soucie, State Librarian of North Dakota

Libraries need to be open and inviting, yet safe for patrons, staff, and collections. How can you ensure your library is both accessible and secure? Awareness and planning are the two keys to proactively addressing potential safety issues.

This program will address some of the key aspects of safety and security planning in libraries today. Active shooter training has become common in many workplaces, including libraries, and the basics of active shooter response will be presented and reviewed in this training.

In this workshop, you'll learn safe workplace behaviors, security measures, and how to activate your “high- risk” customer service skills to make your facility a better, safer place to work. There will be ample opportunity in the session to share best practices, explore ideas, and ask questions of your colleagues from similar-sized libraries. Room size is limited, so register now to ensure a seat.

There are three locations for this 3-hour workshop: Kansas City, Columbia and Cape Girardeau. Please pick your preferred location on the registration page.

Mary J. Soucie has been the State Librarian of North Dakota since January 2014. She has over 25 years’ experience in libraries including school and public libraries, a regional library system and a public library trustee. Mary helped craft the North Dakota State Library's active shooter procedure, one of the first state agencies to adopt this policy. She has done a number of trainings on active shooter policies and presents at meetings and conferences across the country.