Article 1: The Executive Director will inform the Board of Trustees.  If the Executive Director is not in the building when an emergency or disaster occurs, the staff should contact the Executive Director or the Board Chairperson immediately. The Executive Director is empowered by the Board of Trustees to address imminent dangers or threats to the library’s facility, materials, staff, or community. The assumption should never be made that a situation is a drill or a false alarm.  There will be only one spokesperson and that will be the Executive Director or Board Chairperson.

Article 2: Health Emergencies

• Call 911
  • Clear the immediate area
  • Do not move the ill or injured person
  • Staff members who have been certified in First Aid, CPR, or similar emergency measures should administer direct aid
  • Stay with the person until medical help arrives
  • Executive Director or designee will complete an accident report

Article 3: Non-Emergency Situations

Weather Events, Loss of Utilities (power, heat, water, air conditioning, insect infestation)

      3.1 Inform Executive Director and Board of Trustees of non-emergency situation

• The library will close due to inclement weather determined by the Executive Director
  • If closing staff should escort patrons out of the building
  • Contact the utility company/exterminator/contractor
  • Post information about the temporary closure at both entrances, on social media, the library’s website, radio station and print publications

Article 4: Guidelines for Building Evacuation

• Call 911
  • Communicate to all staff and patrons in a calm, clear manner
  • Staff should escort patrons out of the building
  • Staff should do a final check of the building to ensure all patrons have been evacuated

Article 5: Emergency Situations

Gas Leak, Fire, Water Damage/Flood, Hazardous Spill

• Call 911
  • Inform Board Chairperson of emergency situation
  • Close the library
  • Evacuate the building and meet at the gazebo.
  • Post information about the temporary closure at both entrances, on social media, the library’s website, radio station and print publications

Article 6: Bomb Threat

• Call 911
  • Evacuate patrons from the building
  • Keep the caller on the line as long as possible and try to write down every word spoken, as long as it’s safe to do so.
  • Staff should evacuate the building
  • The building may reopen for staff and patrons when cleared by emergency official and Library representative.

Article 7: Active Shooter

• Call 911
  • Barricade the doors
  • Follow predetermined escape/evacuation route(s) or take cover behind protective structures
  • Silence cell phones
  • The building will reopen for staff and patrons when instructed by official emergency personnel and library representative.

Article 8: Lockdown

• When notified by Executive Director, Board Chairperson, or emergency personnel, that there is an imminent external threat in the vicinity of the library, lockdown procedures will be initiated
  • All windows and doors will be locked from the inside
  • Communicate the situation to any patrons inside the building in a calm and clear manner
  • Instruct staff and patrons to stay low and away from the windows and doors
  • The Executive Director will monitor the situation and stay in contact with officials or emergency personnel
  • No one may enter or exit the building until the lockdown is cancelled by officials or emergency personnel
  • Staff speaks only to the Executive Director (ED) or emergency personnel; the ED or Board Chair are official spokesperson and only they speak to the media

Adopted by The Board of Trustees on July 2, 2025