Library Safety Through Design: Using a Checklist Approach at the University of Idaho

Henrich, Kristin; Stoddart, Rick A

doi:10.1080/01930826.2015.1124705

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The design of the library's environment has a clear effect on both visitors' and staff's safety perceptions. Research has long suggested that certain environmental characteristics have a positive effect on reducing crime incidents and enhancing feelings of safety, while others have adverse impacts, and seem to relate to higher incidents and/or low safety perceptions (Carey, 2008; Cromwell et al ., 2008; Henrich and Stoddart, 2016). Our findings show exactly that, namely that the right height for bookshelves and better lighting can improve safety in the library but also ensure that staff are more visible in the library.…”

Section: Discussion Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shuman (1999) illustrated examples of the systematic work on this area followed by Chaney and MacDougall (2019), whose book was partially devoted to the importance of design for safety conditions in libraries (see also Bean, 2019; Houlgate and Chaney, 2019; Ratcliffe, 2019). More recent studies call for increased knowledge in challenging situations, including acts of terrorism (Cromwell et al ., 2008; Henrich and Stoddart, 2016; Kahn, 2008; Shuman, 1999; Simmons, 2018). However, only a handful of these studies empirically examine safety perceptions of staff and/or visitors (but see, e.g.…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Areas with poor natural surveillance such as behind and between bookshelves have great potential for crime (Cromwell et al ., 2008). Dark areas and corners that lack proper illumination are also safety-related areas of concern (Carey, 2008; Cromwell et al ., 2008; Henrich and Stoddart, 2016). Some areas are criminogenic because of the activities they attract.…”

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Safety in a public library: the perspective of visitors and staff

Ceccato,

Ercin,

Hazanov

et al. 2023

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PurposeIn this study, the authors report visitors' and personnel's safety experiences and concerns in order to understand the safety conditions of a library.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is based on answers from a small sample survey of library visitors, interviews with the personnel and incidents recorded in a library in Stockholm the capital of Sweden.FindingsDealing with visitors under influence of drugs/alcohol or feeling intimidated by groups of young individuals are examples of situations in which the staff feel most unsafe. Visitors declare witnessing problems of public disturbance and disorderly conduct, fights and other types of aggression. Although the vast majority of visitors declare feeling safe in the library, their perceptions vary according to the library's environment and their individual characteristics, including their previous victimization.Practical implicationsThe study is novel because it indicates the importance of the environment to ensure the safety conditions of the library for both visitors and staff. Finally, research on safety in libraries is often from North America and Western European contexts, while this study contributes to the international literature by illustrating libraries in a Nordic European context.Social implicationsThe study indicates that more social control, both formal and informal, is at the top of the list of recommendations for visitors. Among personnel, recommendations include the need for cooperation with other local actors to solve problems in surrounding areas as well as better education for librarians in dealing with the current safety challenges of libraries as multifunctional public facilities.Originality/valueCombine visitors' and personnel's safety experiences to better understand the safety conditions of a public library.

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Section: Discussion Of Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Safety in a public library: the perspective of visitors and staff

Ceccato,

Ercin,

Hazanov

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Another more recent research study in this category of literature by Kristin Henrich and Richard Stoddart used a "Crime Prevention through Environmental Design" checklist at the University of Idaho's library to determine the safety of a space using predetermined factors. 13 The checklist had 10 areas to assess and determined that certain improvements could be made to the space without compromising the already existing structure, including better lighting, closing off entrapment areas to the public, having more signs visible related to areas of accessibility and exits, and increasing staff surveillance of the entire building.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Student Perceptions of the Library during Times of Terror: Exploratory Research Surveying Students Affected by the October 1 Shooting and Their Impressions of Safety in the Academic Library Community

Mazmanyan

2020

C&RL

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, the history of Las Vegas, Nevada was forever changed when a mass shooting claimed the lives of 58 innocent people at a concert site on the Vegas Strip. Only three miles away, the University of Nevada Las Vegas and its main branch, Lied Library, became a space where students sought shelter and answers. To understand how this event impacted students' perceptions of safety at UNLV, nine qualitative interviews were conducted asking students to consider the various qualities of a public place that make it feel safe. Students' responses were analyzed to determine similarities and differences of "safe" locations on campus. Although each participant shared unique viewpoints as to where they would seek shelter and why, it was discovered that most students did not alter their actions regarding spatial use after the incident. More research must be conducted to determine if the majority of UNLV students feel similarly about their campus spaces and how the university can improve upon feelings of safety in the academic community. On the night of Sunday, October 1, 2017, a man opened fire from above on a crowd at the Route 91 Festival held adjacent to the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. A total of 58 people were killed, and hundreds were injured. This attack occurred only three miles away from the University of Nevada Las Vegas' (UNLV) campus and the campus' main library branch, Lied Library, which was fully staffed and occupied like any other night. The shooting took place at roughly 10 p.m.; Students who were in Lied Library at this time learned of the events happening close by, and some did not want to leave the building. As documented in university statements, campus police had determined that the vicinity of UNLV was safe and not under threat. This caused the library and other campus buildings to operate under normal closing procedures, asking everyone in the space to leave by midnight. In the days following the shooting, some students reported that they were afraid to leave the library that night and were frustrated by the decision for the building to close among the chaos. The following morning, UNLV's President released a statement about the incident but chose not to close the school to help create a

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“…The International CPTED Association (ICA) defines CPTED as "a multi-disciplinary approach of crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments" (ICA 2021). These directives include clear sight lines to the degree possible both inside and outside the building, sufficient lighting throughout the building, and minimized concealed spaces or isolated routes (Henrich and Stoddart 2016). Accordingly, we addressed this in the survey and asked about which elements of CPTED libraries had adopted.…”

Section: Introduction and Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Library Security: Perceptions of Preparedness

Adams

Kiorpes

2021

LLM

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This article details the results of two parallel surveys sent to the heads of campus security and the libraries at 54 schools within the SUNY system. We undertook this study to determine the extent of collaboration between these groups and to learn where library and security staff perceptions of safety and preparedness differ. The findings indicated that most campuses have emergency response plans in place for the possibility of a high-impact violent event or a human-caused emergency. However, libraries are less likely to have dedicated emergency plans and report an inconsistent mix of physical security measures and staff safety trainings. Overall, both campus security respondents and library staff members feel safe at work and reasonably prepared for a human-caused emergency. Additionally, campus security consistently rated the libraries as safer and more prepared than the librarians rated themselves, and a gap exists in perceptions of the frequency and usefulness of collaborations between the two. Security consistently answered that they are closely involved with library trainings and safety measures, while the librarians’ responses ranged from no contact with security to praise for existing collaborations and a desire for more.

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Library Safety Through Design: Using a Checklist Approach at the University of Idaho

Cited by 7 publications

References 8 publications

Safety in a public library: the perspective of visitors and staff

Safety in a public library: the perspective of visitors and staff

Student Perceptions of the Library during Times of Terror: Exploratory Research Surveying Students Affected by the October 1 Shooting and Their Impressions of Safety in the Academic Library Community

Library Security: Perceptions of Preparedness

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