EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: WSU LIBRARY

Emergency Telephone Numbers (University/Library Personnel)

1) Notify full-time library staff or security on duty as soon as possible.

2) WSU Campus Security: dial extention 5555

3) Emergency: dial 911 or 9+911 (fire, police, ambulance)

  If a serious injury or illness occurs:

1.   Call 911 or 9+911 (notify library staff and security).

Provide the building's name and address: corner of Johnson and Mark Streets; the most suited entry to the building; have a library worker meet emergency personnel at the entrance, if possible; the victim's exact location in the building; the symptoms; and the victim's name, if known. 

If you are unable to leave the injured student, direct another student worker or student to the nearest phone to call 911 with the above information.

  If it is a non-emergency situation:

• Notify library staff or library security and call campus security (5555) to have them assess situation.  If you are unsure, call both
  911 (emergency) and 5555 (WSU security) - it is better to err on the side of caution.
  
  

• Student non-emergency medical needs or assistance should be referred to WSU Health Services - call WSU security at 5555 if Health Services is closed.  Faculty, staff, and visitor non-emergency medical needs and assistance can be obtained from WSU security.
  

If alarms go off, and no emergency is visible (fire, smoke etc.)

1. Exit the Library (grab a portable phone if possible). Once outside the Library find a phone or cell phone. Library staff,WSU security (x5555), or student workers (in this order) will immediately call 911 or if using a campus phone call 9+911. Also use the public address system (x2221) to announce that everyone should take valuables and immediately exit the Library. NOTE: The PA system cannot be heard in the study rooms and offices.

2.   Next call WSU security (5555) and inform them of the alarms.  Then library staff person should deputize another employee (preferably a librarian or full time staff member) to help check the upper floors.  Each should take a wing (East or West) and conduct a quick check of the 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd Mezzanine floors and all study rooms and offices.  Do not use elevators. 

3.  Exit the building.

Fire or Danger Visible in the Library Building

If a fire or building danger is present

1.  The first person to become aware of a fire or emergency will sound an alarm and notify the appropriate emergency agency by dialing the universal emergency number 9+ 911 (from any campus telephone).  

2.  Notify library staff if available.

3.  Library staff, security or student worker should make an announcement on the Library PA system (dial 2221) to evacuate all students, including study rooms and offices, and to not use elevators.  People with disabilities should go to the main circular stairwell  (or to the stairwell the furthest from the fire).    After evacuation, building entrances and walkways should not be blocked.

  If full-time library staff members are not in the building

1.  Pull the nearest fire alarm. Fire alarms are located near exit doors, stairwells, and the main rotunda entrance (be aware of the closest alarm in your area).

2.  Call 9+911 and notify WSU security (5555).

3.  Security should make an announcement on the Library PA system (dial 2221).  To evacuate all students, flash the building lights (located at the Circulation desk). Remember not to use elevators.  If security cannot be found, you make the announcement (and do step 4).

4.  Security should deputize two workers and check each should check one of the 3 library floors including study rooms and offices, to make sure all students are out of the library. 

If fire is present and a danger and no full-time staff are available

The first person to become aware of a fire or emergency will sound an alarm and notify the appropriate emergency agency by dialing the universal emergency number 911 (from any campus telephone).  At the sounding of the (fire) alarm, all building occupants will evacuate through the nearest exterior door; no building elevators will be used.  If possible check all three floors including study rooms and offices. After evacuation, building entrances and walkways should not be blocked.

Upon the arrival of the fire department or other emergency agency, the caller will advise as to the location of the emergency, as specifically as possible.   All building monitors will report individuals or groups that are not evacuated from the building to the fire department or emergency agency.  Building occupants will only return to the building when the fire department or emergency agency gives approval for return. 

Procedures for Evacuation of Persons with Disabilities:

Because of the difficulty in identifying and locating patrons with disabilities:

All patrons with disabilities will need to go to the main circular stairwell or the stairwell furthest from danger.

  Library personnel will check all four stairwells for persons needing assistance exiting the building.  Library personnel will direct emergency professionals to check all stairwells on all floors.

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Upon notification by Security of severe weather outside alarms (or for closing the library call Tom Bremer- Dean of the Library)

• Work: (507)457-5151
• Cell: (308)541-1905 (calling card is located at the front Circulation desk in drawer at high table). Or call collect whichever is easiest.
• Home: (507)474-7238

1.  Student workers should notify full-time staff (if available).  

2.  Basement door key are located at both the front circulation desk and the Information gallery. Grab the Emergency radio in the Circulation area, if possible.

3.  Library staff should use library PA system (dial 2221) and flash the building lights (located at the Circulation desk) to notify students of severe weather and direct them to the basement door (near ILL office). At the Circulation desk, turn the building lights on and off to visually warn students.  With the basement key library staff should unlock door and hold it open to direct students to safety.  Information Gallery workers will walk the first floor to make sure students are moving to the library’s basement.  If conditions permit, Library staff/assistants will check all floors including study rooms and offices.

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  1. Try to calm patron. If you are unable to help the patron, excuse yourself and ask a librarian or WSU security to come to the service area where the angry patron is located.  If there are no library staff available call WSU security 5555, if needed call 911 (police).

Library staff are NOT required to accept verbal abuse.

  NOTE: If you feel uncomfortable or in danger, walk away from the person/situation
(your safety is more important than any argument).

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  First, please contact your supervisor or other library supervisor. You can also contact the Dean of the Library, Tom Bremer:
Work: (507)457-5151
Cell: (308)541-1905 (calling card is located at the front Circulation desk in drawer at high table). Or call collect whichever is easiest.
Home: (507)474-7238

If none of the above are available WSU Security and/or the Winona police should be called.

Harassment:   Harassment is uninvited and unwelcome verbal conduct. Or it can be defined as: To annoy persistently after being been asked to stop. Call WSU security 5555 and the Winona Police at 9+911.

  Sexual Harassment: Uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct directed at a person because of his or her sex. Call WSU security 5555 and the Winona Police at 9+911.

  Indecent exposure or act:  Call 911 immediately and 5555 (WSU security).  Get a brief description (color of clothing, hair, etc.) Give description to Winona Police and WSU security.

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  Internet Use Policy

  MnSCU Acceptable Use of Computers Policy

Pornography:  Child pornography is illegal, call immediately 9+911 (Winona Police) and 5555 (WSU Security).

Other pornography:  See the Library Policy on pornography (we do NOT judge the materials that patrons look at, if a patron is harassed by another patron, call security to end harassment).

Intellectual Freedom’s Meaning and Scope  (content from ALA ’s  website 4/29/02 )
“Libraries are a major information source in our society for access to the larger world of human expression. For some, they are the only available access point. Libraries connect individuals with the ideas, information, and images they seek. Libraries that raise barriers to access damage their credibility with their users.”

By providing information across the spectrum of human interests, and making them available and accessible to anyone who wants them, libraries allow individuals to exercise their First Amendment right to seek and receive all types of expression, from all points of view. Materials in any given library cover the spectrum of human experience and thought, even those that some people may consider false, offensive, or dangerous.

In the millions of Web sites available on the Internet, there are some—often loosely called “pornography”—that parents, or adults generally, do not want children to see. A very small fraction of those sexually explicit materials is actual obscenity or child pornography, which are not constitutionally protected. The rest, like the overwhelming majority of materials on the Internet, is protected by the First Amendment.

Obscenity and child pornography are illegal. Federal and state statutes, the latter varying slightly depending on the jurisdiction, proscribe such materials. The U.S. Supreme Court has settled most questions about what obscenity and child pornography statutes are constitutionally sound.

According to the Court:
Obscenity must be determined using a three-part test. To be obscene, (1) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, must find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interests; (2) the work must depict or describe, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct as specified in the applicable statutes; and (3) the work, taken as a whole, must lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.  Child pornography may be determined using a slightly less rigorous test. To be child pornography, the work must involve depictions of sexual conduct specified in the applicable statutes and use images of children below a specified age.”

See ALA ’s website for further information:  http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/internet.html

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Technology Emergencies (including Seizure of Computers, Library Records or Other Equipment)

1) Assess situation -- and troubleshoot problem. 
2) Contact the Library Supervisor on duty (Brian, Kendall, Tino or Librarian/staff).

If not solved or it is beyond your ability to resolve…

Call the Technical Support Center (TSC) to report problem.
If the TSC is closed --assess problem, time of day, student usage, time of semester.

If problem only affects a small number of computers or printer or its later in the night and a slow evening this may warrant reporting the problem via email to the TSC and Brian/Kendall/Tino to deal with in the morning.  However if the printer server goes down and no printing is available to students and the library will be open for many more hours or its mid-terms/finals ---Gresham should be called.

Call Kendall Larson
Home:(507)457-9905
Cell (507)313-1130
Kendall will come in if needed to assess problem or decision will be discussed over the phone.

If it’s a major problem/emergency (and KL is not available)  Staff or Librarian should call (please – students should not use this number unless an emergency and a library staff person is not available):

Ken Janz: to report the full problem and description of what has been troubleshot.
Cell (507)429-8017

Supervisors please use your best judgment.

University Librarian: Tom Bremer
(308)541-1905 (calling card is located at the front Circulation desk in drawer at high table). Or call collect whichever is easiest.
Home: (507)474-7238

Seizure of Computers, Library Records or Other Equipment

If police or other government organization request to remove WSU Library records, computers or other equipment, you need to follow the procedures below:

1.  Inform a library staff member, on duty, of the request to seize library property (computers, library records, or other items house in the library).

2.  If a library staff member is not on duty, notify WSU security.

• Library policy dictates the requestor of WSU Library property should return when full-time WSU Library staff is present. 
• No library items should be removed from the library without a search warrant. 
• If library property is taken a receipt and proof of authority and information of who has property are required.

3.   Library Administration and WSU security should be notified immediately if equipment is removed from the library (phone numbers are located on the last page).

4. Request a receipt for the items to be removed. 
Receipt should include the following documentation:

Each item name/location

Name of official responsible for removal (contact phone number/e-mail)
Photocopy of Identification card of the responsible official

Date

Reason for removal

Location equipment will be housed outside of the library

Please request that equipment not to be removed until one of the three library personnel, noted in no. 3 above) are present and receipt has been received by designated library personnel.

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1.  Notification:  The person receiving the bomb threat shall notify WSU Security immediately (5555) and the Winona police 9+911.

2.  Evacuation:  The official decision to evacuate campus buildings shall be made by the Vice-President for Student Affairs & Facilities or his designee. If the Vice-President, Library Dean or Library staff members are not available, evacuate all people from the library.

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Tom Bremer, Dean of the Library/Administrator
Work: (507)457-5151
Cell: (308)541-1905 (calling card is located at the front Circulation desk in drawer at high table). Or call collect whichever is easiest.
Home: (507)474-7238

Vernon Leighton, Library Department Chair
Work:(507)457-5148
Home: (507) 457-0490

For full list to call: Login into Sharepoint ( Icon on your work desktop, instructions in D2L). See left navigation bar, Click on "Librarians: Contact Info & Pictures.

Other Situations:

Opening Procedures - A Supervisor does not show up to open the building: 

If the assigned supervisor does not show to open the building and thus the building is not opened by the following times on the following days, please follow the procedures below
Monday through Friday – by 7:45am
Saturday – 10:15am
Sunday  - 1:15pm

1) Find the nearest telephone (if it is fifteen minutes after the opening time and front doors are not open).
2) Call security x5555 (and facilities) to open the building (and room 105).  Security is responsible for the security of the building if opened by facilities (you may need to call WSU Facilities x5045). You may need to show security a photo ID card, so they know who you are.
3) Once you are in the building, check the Sharepoint calendar to see who is “on-duty”. A link to Sharepoint is in the D2L Library training area under "Library Personnel and Organization Information" section.
4) Use contact phone number list and call the librarian/supervisor “on duty”.
5) If the librarian/supervisor is not available, start calling down the list of librarians (supervisors), till a supervisor is contacted and can come in to deal with the situation.

Emergency Contact list:  Tom Bremer and Vernon Leighton are listed on our Emergency list webpage; and it mentions the sharepoint location. However since our students  One option to consider is that we add all our contact numbers to this page (home phone numbers and /or cell numbers), so that sharepoint is not a barrier to calling a list of supervisors.

http://www.winona.edu/library/procedures/emergencyprocedures.html#calllist