Emergency Closures

3.16 Emergency Closings

Little Dixie Regional Libraries strives to provide as many hours of public service as possible in all of its facilities. At the same time, another goal is to provide an environment, which protects the safety of library staff and users.

The decision to alter the schedule of the library’s normal hours of operation because of bad weather or any other emergency situation will be made by the library director. In the absence of the director, the library board or a consensus of the department supervisors will make the decision.

If all library facilities are closed for the entire day:

  • All full-time employees will be paid for the hours they have been scheduled to work.

  • All part-time employees will be paid for the hours they have been scheduled to work.

  • Full-time or part-time employees not scheduled for work will not be granted compensatory time. (For example, if an employee has already scheduled vacation time for the day on which the library is closed, the employee must still use vacation time on that day.)

If one or more facilities are open and other facilities are closed because staff is unable to work their scheduled hours, decisions about enumeration will be made by the director on a case-by-case basis.

If library facilities open on time and remains open on a regular operating schedule for the entire day, employees who do not report to work for their scheduled hours or who leave before completing their scheduled hours will be required to use vacation, sick leave, or personal leave or to work extra time to replace the hours to complete a regularly scheduled workday.

A decision to close for the entire day will be made as soon as possible by director or a consensus of department heads in the absence of the director.


3.16.01 Emergency Procedures

It is the view of Little Dixie Regional Libraries that human safety is the most important thing in the event of an emergency.

Designated meeting spot in case of emergency

· Moberly

o Rear City Parking Lot

o Brick Restaurant City Parking Lot

· Madison

o Casey’s Parking Lot

· Huntsville

o Huntsville Post Office

· Paris

o First Baptist Church

POLICE

· In an emergency, or if a crime is happening / happened, call 911.

o Identify yourself as an employee of the library

o Explain the situation

o Give the library’s address

o Do as they instruct

· If there is no immediate emergency, but you need an officer, call the non-emergency phone number.

o Identify yourself as an employee of the library

o Explain the situation

o Request the officer to attend the library as soon as possible

o Give the library’s address

o Do as they instruct

· Contact the library director as soon as you are safe.

FIRE

· If you see fire or smell smoke, call 911.

· Pull fire alarm within the library building.

· Evacuate

o Evacuate all patrons and staff immediately and safely

o Use intercom system (if available) to instruct people on how to leave safely

o If safe, please check restrooms, staff areas, and meeting rooms to ensure all people are out

o If the fire is small and observed, take the nearest fire extinguisher to the fire. While approaching the fire, test the extinguisher. Use the PASS procedure with the fire extinguisher: Pull Aim Shoot Sweep

· The lead staff member is responsible for communicating with authorities to determine when it is safe to return to the building.

· Contact the library director as soon as you are safe.

TORNADO

· During a severe storm:

o Keep radios on for updated information

o Take precautions as necessary

· During a tornado warning:

o Move all patrons and staff to the interior and bottom level of the library

o Use intercom system (if available) to instruct people that there is a warning and they must move for their own safety

· Lead staff member is responsible for communicating with authorities to determine when it is safe to evacuate after tornado

· Contact the library director as soon as you are safe.

BOMB THREAT

· Ask caller to repeat message. Try to record every word spoken by caller.

· If caller does not indicate location of the bomb or time/possible detonation, ask caller for information

· Listen closely to voice and for background noises

· Pass a note/contact another staff member to call 911 immediately and indicate bomb threat

· Evacuate the building immediately by verbally instructing patrons on what to do. Lock doors if possible to prevent patrons from reentering.

· Staff should stand a distance away from the building and follow police instructions.

· Contact the library director as soon as you are safe.

EARTHQUAKE

· During an earthquake, staff should loudly instruct people to get down on their knees under a table/desk and lean forward, face down and cover their head with their arms.

· After the initial quake and before aftershocks:

o Lead staff member is responsible for communicating with authorities to determine when it is safe to evacuate after the quake

o Assemble staff and patrons in the interior / central area of the library until instructed to leave. Stay away from glass. Stay inside until safe to evacuate. Watch for falling objects.

· If anyone is injured, fire developing, water leaking, etc. call 911.

· Turn on radio for emergency bulletins.

· Contact the library director as soon as you are safe.

HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL SPILL

· Call 911 and report the incident

· Verbally let occupants of the building know there is a large chemical spill and they must leave immediately. Share locations of the exits.

· Contact the library director as soon as you are safe.

INJURY OR SUDDEN ILLNESS OF PATRON

· Call emergency number and report the following information:

o Library address

o “This is an emergency”

o State type of problem and its severity. Be specific.

· First Aid kits are located in Circulation, Reference, and Cataloging departments.

· In all injuries of a serious nature, such as falls, broken limbs, shock, unconsciousness, and epileptic attacks, the injured should not be moved. Wait for paramedic team.

· Inform the patron emergency help has been called.

· For heart problems, let the individual determine how they best feel comfortable waiting for the emergency help.

· Person in charge should clear the area of bystanders. Staff will need to immediately move away any obstacles (furniture, book carts, chairs) that may be in the path of emergency crew

· A staff member (if possible) should wait outside to lead emergency crew to patron’s location within the library building.

· Staff should NEVER come into contact with blood, vomit, or other bodily fluids without the use of rubber/plastic gloves.

· Avoid unnecessary conversation with, or about, the ill or injured person. You might add to the person’s distress or fears, increasing the risk of medical shock. Limit your communication to quiet reassurances.

· Do not discuss insurance information.

· Person in charge (and any other staff primarily involved) should complete an incident report as fully as possible, including:

o Name and address of individual plus the name and address of witnesses

o Note the names of any library employees involved in the incident

o Information should include

§ Exact words of victim

§ Time, location of accident, description of injury

o If warranted, staff should take photos of accident site.

o Give report to Director

o Liability of Staff: The good Samaritan law applies to the average standard of care. If you do more than that, staff may be liable.




Posted online September 7, 2021

3.16.01 Updated 05/17/2022