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Library adds panic button in teen room; trustees plan active-assailant training
Summary
The library installed a panic button in the teen team room and trustees requested a staff-and-trustee training with police after discussion of building security, cameras and communication protocols.
Library Director Ryan reported that the library has added a panic button in the teen team room that ties into the existing alarm company system. "...it's like a silent alarm... the company says, what's happening? You have to explain it to them, and then they shunt it to the police department," Ryan said, describing how the alarm company relays alerts.
Ryan noted that panic buttons already exist at the main-floor desk and in the children's room; the new unit addresses the teen room, which staff identified as a segmented area without a panic button. Trustees pressed for faster in-building notification procedures and asked whether staff could be alerted directly. Ryan said staff use cell phones and chat software to communicate, and the library is expanding camera coverage.
Trustees also discussed an active-assailant ("shooter/stabber") training offered previously by town police and school-safety officers. Marguerite asked Director Ryan to "reach out to Chief Newell" and schedule a session for trustees and staff; Ryan said he would do so and noted police staffing constraints but aimed to arrange training soon. Trustees agreed it might be helpful to combine staff and trustees for cross-training.
No formal vote was taken. The installation is complete for the teen-room panic button and trustees directed staff to pursue a training date with the police and to review camera coverage and communication procedures.
