“The most important asset of any library goes home at night - the library staff.”
– Timothy Healy
Passion. Experience. Care
Libraries are foundational to our communities. They are one of the few spaces that are truly open to all, serving as places of learning, connection, and support, particularly for those who are most vulnerable.
With that openness comes complexity. Libraries are increasingly navigating challenges related to safety, behavior, and unmet community needs, often without the resources or support systems to fully address them.
Too often, the response to these challenges is reactive: relying on security presence or emergency response. While those tools and resources have a role, they are not, on their own, a sustainable approach to safety.
I believe safety in libraries is created through systems, not just response.
That means:
Staff who are trained, supported, and trusted to act
Leadership that sets clear expectations and follows through
Policies and practices that are consistent and aligned
Environments designed to reduce escalation before it occurs
Staff are not separate from safety, they are central to it. When staff feel unsupported or unclear, challenges escalate. When they are equipped and backed by leadership, they are able to navigate complexity with confidence and consistency.
My approach is grounded in a holistic, strengths-based perspective that recognizes safety as something we build together through everyday interactions, relationships, and systems that support both staff and community members.
This includes:
Supporting staff as active participants in shaping solutions
Aligning leadership practices with frontline expectations
Reframing the role of security as part of a broader, relationship-centered approach
Building environments where both staff and patrons experience safety, dignity, and belonging