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If you’d like to talk about on-the-job risks: in February a library security guard was murdered after telling someone to turn down their music https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/security-officer-stabbed-and-killed-inside-library-after-telling-suspect-to-lower-music-authorities/2294769/ https://twitter.com/kingdomofwench/status/1266168167065419777
Jan 2019 a library director was murdered at his book sale in Ft. Myers. https://www.news-press.com/story/news/2019/01/20/man-held-fatal-stabbing-fort-myers-beach-library/2631454002/
He really loved the library
In 2017 a 16 year old boy killed a circulation assistant (front desk staff) and a children’s librarian, and injured 2 others https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/29/us/new-mexico-library-shooting/index.html
Also 2019, a man set himself on fire in the Des Moines library https://myfox8.com/news/man-sets-himself-on-fire-in-library-dies/
2014, my college library https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/fsu-news/2014/11/20/shooting-strozier-library-stuns-florida-state/70040320/
Not to mention: Minneapolis, LAST NIGHT
I’ve had to deescalate pretty much every kind of fight, including with people in crisis or on drugs, and it’s OK but nobody ever gives us special training.
My library is foo small for full time security, so when things get disruptive I just have to figure it out.
Have I put myself physically at risk? Yes. I have a good relationship with the community and most people don’t want bad stuff to happen in the library.
And now a lot of libraries have to navigate the mask thing too.
