Run, Hide, Fight: Surviving Workplace Violence

This six-minute video was produced with a Department of Homeland Security Grant by the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Link to Run, Hide, Fight on The Best of PubLib for a full discussion of the video.

 

Although there is no JPL training credit for this 6-minute video,
we urge all staff to view it.

This six-minute video was produced with a Department of Homeland Security Grant by the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. It includes three key concepts ~

RUN – When an active shooter is in your vicinity:

• If there is an escape path, attempt to evacuate
• Leave your belongings behind.
• Help others escape if possible.
• Prevent others from entering the area.
• Call 911 when you are safe.

HIDE – When Escape is not possible:

• Lock and / or blockade the door.
• Silence your cell phone.
• Hide behind large objects.
• Remain very quiet.

FIGHT – As a last resort, and only if your life is in danger:

• Attempt to incapacitate the shooter.
• Act with physical aggression.
• Improvise weapons.
• Commit to your actions.

In addition to those key concepts of Run, Hide, and Fight – the video also discusses how to interact with law enforcement.

911 – When Law Enforcement Arrives:

• Remain calm and follow instructions.
• Keep you hands visible at all times.
• Avoid pointing or yelling.
• Know that help for the injured is on the way.

The information provided in the video has been endorsed by numerous law enforcement agencies.
Libraries are certainly not exempt from workplace violence. Many have disaster plans in place and policies and procedures that are meant to reduce the likelihood of violence.

However, they are open to the public and certainly permeable to people with ill-intent. Many are also open to an increasing population of concealed carry permit holders – including patrons and staff.

Link to Run, Hide, Fight on The Best of PubLib for a full discussion of the video.

FY13 Training Survey Results

Thanks to the 40 people who gave us their snapshot views of JPL training for last fiscal year.  We ran the survey from October 17th to 29th. 16 supervisors and 24 non-supervisors responded.

43% were satisfied or very satisfied overall with FY13 training.  31% were neutral and 25% were unsatisfied or very unsatisfied.  While only 14% of supervisors (2) expressed overall dissatisfaction, 33% (8) of non-supervisors did so.

One supervisor's comment summarized the challenges of FY13:

The re-organization created havoc with training...the shear amount of change and the number of people doing different jobs without any prior preparation, resulted in most learning on the fly.... We did things backwards initially with Tech training, setting the objectives before setting the competencies and before having the training in place.  Training Dept. did a good job of playing catch-up.

Two concerns stand out in the responses and comments:

• People need training directly relevant to the specialized needs of their work
• Time management is the number one challenge to delivery of training.

The survey highlights things we will start to work on in FY14 as part of addressing Strategic Plan Goal #3 (Engaged and Skilled Staff).

• An on-the-job learning focus to build employee confidence and competence
• Comprehensive learning needs assessment
• Individualized learning plans, created jointly by supervisors and their employees
• Training resources and delivery methods targeted to specific needs in specific work settings
• System-wide reappraisal of staff and time allocation in support of Strategy 3.2 (Strengthen staff skills and knowledge).

As we develop our plans we will keep you posted.

Thanks,
Mike Shell
JPL Training Coordinator

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See Fiscal Year 2013 Training Survey for questions and results:

• Show a graphical summary of responses
• Show all responses

See Fiscal Year 2013 Training Survey Report for analysis and recommendations.

Tech-Talk: Free through NEFLIN - technology tips & computer skills

NEFLIN makes this service available free for all Florida library staff. If you want to subscribe to Tech-Talk, contact tech-talk@neflin.org.

Tech-Talk offers technology tips and computer skill-building resources through a weekly email subscription and access to the Tech-Talk website for other technology resources, and the archives of the weekly emails. All NEFLIN members should be receiving a weekly email from Tech-Talk that offers technology tips (if not, let us know). Login: floridalibrarystaff Password:  viva500

Dealing with Difficult Patrons (ALA Editions archived webinar)

Note: This archived webinar underscores and demonstrates key principles already incorporated into the JPL Library Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures:

• Publicly posted Code of Conduct
• Focus on behavior, rather than on opinions of customers or of staff
• "Get to Yes" approach to dealing with difficult customer situations.

For training credit, submit a Request for Training Credit online form.

Dealing with Difficult Patrons
90-minute workshop with Steve Albrecht
Originally presented on Thursday, September 19, 2013

• The recording of this webinar is available for playback or download here.
• The PowerPoint slides for this webinar are available for download here.

In this workshop, library safety and security expert Albrecht shows you how you can deal with problem patrons effectively, efficiently, and without creating major disruptions. Library employees at all levels will learn strategies for dealing with such patrons and effectively diffusing challenging situations.

Workshop topics include:

• Developing a security plan and consistent responses for all situations.
• Understanding the need for security thinking in the "new" library environment.
• How to more accurately define workplace violence, its perpetrators, and types of threats.

Dr. Steve Albrecht, PHR, CPP, BCC, is board certified in HR, security management, and employee coaching. In 1994, he co-wrote Ticking Bombs, one of the first business books on workplace violence. He holds a doctorate in Business Administration, an M.A. in Security Management, a B.S. in Psychology, and a B.A. in English.

Public Libraries and the Homeless: Legal Issues (archived webnar)

The September 18th Public Libraries and the Homeless: Legal Issues webinar is now available from the free InfoPeople archive (see Access below).

Note: Some content about court rulings may become outdated over the next year, as newer cases are settled.

Presenter: Mary Minow

Speaker's slides

ppt [7mb]

pdf (Full slide) [2.3mb]

pdf (3 slides per page) [656kb]

Handouts: doc [124kb] - pdf [44kb]

Because courts give greater latitude to library rules that are behavior focused, and a tighter scrutiny to rules based on status or speech, it’s important to know the how to frame your policies, especially when dealing with specific populations such as the homeless.

The one-hour webinar looks at the movement for Homeless Persons’ Bill of Rights and Fairness, and the current legal rights and professional ethics as they apply to public libraries.

Note: Have the JPL Library Code of Conduct handy during the webinar, so that you can compare our policies with Mary Minow's recommendations.

It will also discuss specific issues such as oversize parcels, behavior issues, and qualifications for library cards for customers who don’t have a permanent address.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:

• Know about the rights that homeless patrons have and rights they are striving for
• Review library ethical statements on service to the poor and the freedom to read
• Understand some legal nuances between rules that target behavior versus rules that are focused on user status

This webinar will be of interest to front line public staff, administrators, trustees – particularly in public libraries, but the analysis applies to all publicly funded libraries.

Access

• Click the View Archive button (or, if you do not see that button, the click here link)
• Complete the registration form (free) and click the Register button
• The Adobe Connect webinar should begin.

Get Help Florida: Statewide portal for 100s of e-Gov resources

Did you know that last month over 4,900 visitors used Get Help Florida to access hundreds of E-Government resources?  This statewide Web portal is arranged by categories such as: Help by County, Shelters and Food, and 211 Resources. The categories enable users to quickly and easily locate agencies for assistance, no matter what their need.

To find out how your library can link to Get Help Florida, contact Pam Thompson at: pam.thompson@dos.myflorida.com, or 850.245.6633. 

The Get Help Florida site was created by the Pasco County Public Library Cooperative with funds from a Library Services and Technology Act grant, administered by the Division of Library and Information Services.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Staff Development Day 2013 was a fine example of just the sort of system-wide teamwork, collaborative leadership and staff initiative which the day was designed to lift up and celebrate.

First: Staff and supervisors of every JPL unit organized themselves to assure customer service coverage, despite the schedule disruptions which a full Monday work day made necessary.

Second: Administrative and Support Services Team members went out to the branches on Tuesday to help catch up on weekend book drop returns and other tasks.

Third: We had over a dozen volunteers from Main Library who served as guides to the building during the day, and 30 more folks who worked as session helpers during the workshops.

Fourth: Bob Silkett, Darlene Nicholson, Tammy Crotts, Patricia Palmer, Ayshea Golden and Leila Wertman staffed the registration desks in the morning, and Diane Alexander and Tenesha Anderson were at the Help Desk for every break.

Fifth: Several people coordinated the development of the 30 breakout sessions and served as presenters, and we had a broad range of additional presenters, including guest speakers.

·         Laura Minnich – Educational Success: Susan Mankowski, Amber Holley, Julie Pactor and Cheryl Callavini

·         Michael Sullivan – Economic Success: Marshelle Berry and Anthony Williams

o   Maurice Menchan and Jennifer Simms (WorkSource)

o   Rev. Reginald Bryant (Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church) and Mary Dumbleton (FSCJ North Campus)

·         Karen Walker & Lynn Jacobson – Technological Success: Andrew Coulon, Randy Mapanoo, Donna Peretzman, Greg Royce, Eric Soriano, Yuri Jewitt, John Carter, Linda Eckersen, Alisha Levasseur, Lisa Peterson, Carrie Paez and Mark Merritt

o   Rhonda Sarli (City Employee Services)

o   Zach Dunmire (3M Company)

·         Ron Block & Julie McNeil – Customer Service, Circ Roundtable & Readers Advisory: Stephanie Harley, Cynthia Simmons, Sara Radovic, Ann Fridl, Mark Hohnadel and Amber Holley

·         Mike Shell – General Topics: Scott Adams, Chris Eaton, Sharon Jaskula, Katie Devanny, Katie Bark, Richard Mott, Charlene Ovshak, Stacey Van Hoy, Mia Brack, Amber Holley and Andi Hammond

o   Jerry Reynolds, manager emeritus, Talking Books/Special Needs Library

o   Candy Solomon and Carol Michael (Independent Living for the Adult Blind – FSCJ), Tyler Morris (Independent Living Resource Center and Mayor’s Disability Council) and Natalie Alden (Disability Rights Florida and Mayor’s Disability Council).

Sixth: We had solid, reliable support from several individuals and teams, both during the months of planning and on the day:

·         Luis Flores and the Facilities staff: Michael Soto, Robbie Tiedeman, Charlene Ovshak, Gene Bragg and Brad Schwarzbauer

·         Mitesh Sangani and the Conference Center staff: Will Daniels, Nathan Fuller, Sheldon Wright and Rob Giles

·         Kathy Lussier and the Community Relations & Marketing staff: Kris Snider, Beth Hawks, Olga Bayer, Cindy Johnson and Pam McClellan

·         Ayshea Golden: development and creation of the “Wall of Fame” slide presentation

·         Matthew Moyer and Andrew Coulon: Music from their “Lost in the Stacks” WJCT Radio show

·         The CW Crew: “Harlem Shuffle” video.

Seventh:The Staff Development Day Committee members and advisors, who began planning in January, surprised themselves with their own smooth efficiency.  Each member took on multiple tasks, and the following is merely an overview:

·         Andi Hammond: Event-planning coordination, development of team-building exercise

·         Mike Shell: Workshop coordination, JPL Training tasks and communication

·         Diane Alexander: Development and implementation of the registration process and workshop evaluations, coordination of team logistics

·         Mitesh Sangani: Coordination of  Conference Center/Main Library logistical support, Anthony's Catering and City Parking arrangements

·         Julie McNeil: Keynote speaker Bertice Berry arrangements, coordination of the Tuesday branch assistance

·         Kathy Lussier: Communications (including print materials, signage, news releases, etc.), coordination with Mayor’s Office, City Council, solicitation of gift donations

·         Lynne Baldwin: Planning, purchase and coordination of gifts and door prizes

·         Anthony Williams: Arrangements for hospitality with the Downtown restaurants

·         Mark Merritt: Budget and finance coordination, master of ceremonies for the opening session and door prize drawing

·         Tenesha Anderson: Committee minutes, administrative and logistical support

·         Tricia Larrabee: Support for gifts and door prizes arrangements

·         Kate Holmes: Support for registration arrangements and online evaluation creation

·         Richard Mott (advisor): Guidance from previous SDDs

·         Ron Block (advisor): Circulation and customer service input

·         Lynn Jacobson (advisor): Technology training

·         Karen Walker (advisor): Technology training.



Standing: Anthony Williams, Lynne Baldwin, Mitesh Sangani, Kathy Lussier,
Diane Alexander, Tenesha Alexander, Mark Merritt, Tricia Larrabee
In Front: Andi Hammond, Julie McNeil

  And, finally, ALL of you blessed us with your presence and with your enjoyment of the day.

Thank you.