by Ann Kaste
Quick Summary
Join us for a two-part series, "De-escalation Tools and Techniques for Library Staff," hosted by CARLI and Minitex. We are seeking your questions and experiences in advance of the session so that our speakers can address your concerns directly!
Many questions and concerns that arise from library users can be handled with a calm and clear de-escalation response. De-escalation strategies and tools put the power in the hands of library staff to both mitigate conflict and educate users about intellectual freedom and library use.
For this series, we are seeking input from registrants to help our speakers focus on what is most relevant to you. Please share scenarios where you have worked with upset or escalated library users and any questions that you have about how to handle those situations by filling out this anonymous form. Your experiences, stories, and questions may be included in the sessions. Sessions will be recorded, and recordings will be sent out to all registrants after the events.
Session I. De-escalation: A Crucial Tool in Libraries for Promoting Intellectual Freedom
January 24, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Hosted by CARLI
DESCRIPTION: Librarians have heard and experienced the trend of increased materials challenges and irate patrons. Yet every day library staff members respond to materials challenges in ways that lead to non-events. It is the confrontations and protests that are featured in the news, but dedicated library staff consistently lower the temperature and prevent conflicts. Moderators Betsy Mahoney and Julia Nephew with presenters Janice Del Negro, Joyce McIntosh, and Steven Ward will explore the training, skills, and best practices that help library staff de-escalate tense encounters with library users.
Session II. Managing Escalated Patron Situations Face to Face: Your Questions Answered
February 28, 2023 3-4 PM
Hosted by Minitex
DESCRIPTION: While working with the public in a library, you may have faced stressful or potentially harmful situations. Perhaps you’ve had an encounter with a patron asking you uncomfortable questions or who has been behaving in an erratic manner. What are the best ways to handle these situations? What tools do you need to manage the sometimes unpredictable behaviors that patrons can bring to the library? Please join us for an upcoming webinar entitled Managing Escalated Patron Situations Face to Face: Your Questions Answered. We are seeking your questions for a live Q&A session with the Safety and Security Program Manager for the University of Minnesota Libraries, Alfredo Hernandez, Jr.
Alfredo Hernandez, Jr. has over eight years of experience working in university public safety- fulfilling frontline duties as well as developing and instructing various safety trainings. Alfredo has certifications in Conflict De-Escalation, Mental Health Crisis Response, Hostile Intruder Response, and Emergency Medical Response. This webinar is intended especially for front line library staff who work directly with the public at any type of library.
