Security and Safety

Responsibility

The responsibility for the security of the Library rests with the Library Director. The security for the Library's mechanical operations and the exterior of the building is the responsibility of the Physical Plant. When any problem in connection with the proper functioning of the Library building arises, Library staff should notify the Administrative Secretary who will contact the custodians or the appropriate persons to handle the problem.

Whenever a staff member has reasonable doubt that he/she cannot control a situation at the time, the campus police should be called. "Situation" includes theft of property, personal behavior that constitutes a private or public nuisance (ND Century Code 42-01-06) or any event that may pose a danger to a person's physical welfare.

Anyone caught stealing or mutilating library materials will be prosecuted under the States criminal mischief law (ND Century Code 12.1-21-05) and held civilly liable for the damage (ND Century Code 32-03-09.2).

Procedures for library staff to follow if they see someone stealing or mutilating library materials:

1. Detain the individual if possible, but do not jeopardize your safety. If you ask for the person's drivers license or student I.D. immediately, he/she may be taken off guard and surrender it. At the very least, get as good a description of the person as possible and seek other witnesses.
2. Call Campus Security at ext. 8998.
3. While waiting for security, obtain the person's name, address, etc.
4. When the security officer arrives, he/she will question the person, write up a report and send it to the Cass County States Attorney.
5. Expect to be called as the witness to District Court if the offense is judged to be a Class A offense or to Municipal Court if a Class B offense.
Click here for link to Circulation Policy section related to mutilation

The Library cannot be held responsible for the damage to or loss of personal property.

The Library will prepare itself to respond promptly and in an organized manner to any emergency situation within or immediately adjacent to the building.

Preparation and Training

The Library encourages permanent employees to be trained through an appropriate approved agency in the proper use of the emergency procedures, such as first-aid/life saving skills and fire extinguisher usage. The coordination of such training programs is the responsibility of the Staff Development Committee.

Responsibility for Rendering Emergency Care

Any permanent employee, in the vicinity, who is trained in emergency medical care is expected to assume responsibility for administering emergency procedures at the time the situation occurs.

The following steps should be taken:

1. If in your judgment, there is reasonable doubt about the severity of the person's condition, an ambulance should be called (293-7744).
2. Call (or ask someone to call) Campus Security.
3. Stay with the person until Campus Security and, if summoned, the ambulance arrives.
4. After the person's care has been transferred to Campus Security or ambulance personnel, fill out the Incident Report Form (see attached copy), and be certain others who assisted also fill out a copy.
5. Send one copy of the Incident Report to the University Attorney, one copy to your immediate supervisor, and one to the Library Director.

If the first person to arrive on the scene has not been properly trained in emergency medical procedure, he/she should stay with the person and ask someone to locate a properly trained employee immediately. While waiting for that employee to arrive, he/she should ask someone to call Campus Security and, if necessary, an ambulance.

If only a student employee is in the building, he/she should determine the nature and severity of the injury and proceed with steps 1-5 above. The student should not attempt emergency medical procedures unless he/she has been properly trained.

When the elevator fails to operate and someone is trapped inside, the following steps should be taken by the person responding to the alarm bell.
1. Locate the elevator cab and try to calm the trapped person(s). Do not try to rescue the person; tell him/her to sit in the middle of the cab and reassure the person that the elevator will not drop because it is hydraulically controlled.
2. See to it that campus security is called.
3. Report the incident to the Library Administration Office.
4. If an injury occurs, follow the procedure for Medical Emergencies (6.6.2).

Fire Reporting - Evacuation
1. Sound the alarm.
2. Find the nearest telephone for which you can safely CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT - DIAL - 911

State:

     a.

(Your name) calling from NDSU

     b.

Location of fire (building name, room #)

     c.

If applicable - indicate someone will be at a specific entrance to give directions.

3. Evacuate the building of all personnel, proceed in a calm manner to the nearest exit.  When the fire alarm sound, three events occur simultaneously:

     a.

Library staff fire volunteers proceed to their assigned areas and begin evacuating the patrons. The volunteers should use judgment in entering areas which may be unsafe (approved 9-6-85).

     b.

One of the permanent Circulation staff proceeds outside and sets a reporting post to which the fire volunteers check in after they have ascertained everyone is out of their area.

     c.

Another permanent Circulation staff member makes a short announcement over the PA system:

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
PLEASE FOLLOW THE EXIT SIGNS AND LEAVE THE BUILDING AT ONCE!
(Repeat once)
4. When the alarm is activated all persons must evacuate the building. All personnel are to report to a "safe" area outside of the main front doors (north side of the building).
5. The Circulation staff member at the reporting post informs a fire fighter from the first fire truck to arrive of the status of the building evacuation.
6. In instances where the fire alarm is utilized to evacuate the buildings, as in case of a bomb threat, the alarm is to be activated only upon authorization of the main administrative office.
7. The alarm will be shut off only after the Fire Department give authority to do so. The Fire Department will also be responsible for the verbal "all clear" signal and notification that the Library is safe to enter.

Containment of Fires

No one is obligated to put out a fire or use the fire extinguisher. Consider your personal safety and the safety of others in the building - EVACUATE.

A. Before you consider fighting a fire:
1. Make sure everyone has left the building or is in the process of leaving
2. Make sure that the Fire Department has been called.
B. Never fight a fire if one of the following is true:
• The fire is spreading quickly.
• The fire could block your escape route.
• If you do not know how to use the fire extinguisher.
C. If you decide to fight a fire, remember PASS.
Pull the pin.
Aim low - point the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle.
Sweep from side to side - at the base of the fire until it appears to be out.  Repeat if necessary.

The weather alert monitor in the Circulation Department automatically broadcasts a National Weather Service Bulletin. When the weather bulletin indicates there is severe weather approaching and advises people to seek shelter immediately, the following announcement is broadcast over the PA system by a permanent member of the Circulation department (or her/his designate).
YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS JUST ISSUED A SEVERE WEATHER BULLETIN FOR THE FARGO-MOORHEAD AREA. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THIS BUILDING. CONGREGATE IN OPEN AREAS AND CORRIDORS. STAY AWAY FROM BOOKSTACKS AND EXTERIOR WINDOWS.
EMERGENCY LIGHTS WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON. PLEASE REMAIN ON THE LOWER LEVEL UNTIL AN "ALL CLEAR" IS ANNOUNCED.
(Repeat three times)
Upon hearing the PA warning, designated Library staff involved with the fire evacuation procedures will:
a. Evacuate the Upper Level and Main Level only - no fire alarm will be sounded.

b. Route all people to the Lower Level, rather than to the outside.

c. Stay with the people - congregate them in open areas and corridors, away from bookstacks and exterior windows - keep them calm.

d. Wait for the ALL CLEAR signal.

A Circulation Department staff member will move the weather alert monitor to the Lower Level information area where official reports an ALL CLEAR from the National Weather Service can be received.  Upon receipt of an ALL CLEAR bulletin, a circulation staff member will announce over the PA system:
YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS JUST ISSUED AN "ALL CLEAR" BULLETIN.
(Repeat two times)
If the PA system does not work, the ALL CLEAR bulletin will be transmitted in person.

If the power is still off in the building, refer to the Electrical Power Failure section

Electrical Power Failure

1.

Those people designated fire volunteers will begin evacuation of the public from the building when the Library Director or Division Heads deem necessary (approved by Library Director, 7-16-84) as outlined in Fire Emergency section with the following changes:

     a.

The fire alarms will not be ringing, so Circulation should not call the Fire Department.

     b.

If phones are operating, Circulation will call Campus Security and report that the lights have gone out and evacuation has begun.

     c.

Circulation will lock the main entrance and put a sign out saying why the Library is closed.

     d.

People will be ushered out the main exit, rather than via the emergency exits. If smoke is smelled or a fire seen, the fire alarms should be set off and the procedure for a fire emergency follow.

     e.

If phones are operating, all departments should transfer them to Circulation.

     f.

If phones are not operating, a circulation employee will go to the Campus Security office to report the power failure.

     g.

All equipment should be turned off (approved 11-6-85).

2.

Circulation staff should congregate and remain at the Circulation counter.

     a.

to help people leaving

     b.

to discourage people from entering the Library.

3.

The rest of the Library staff, as soon as possible, should gather in the Staff Lounge and await word about the severity of the power failure.

4.

Within 30 minutes after the power failure begins, the staff should be informed as to what has happened and what to do next. The announcement/decision should be made by the Director; or in his/her absence by a consensus of the Division Leads present; or in their absence, by a majority of the Department Heads present; or in their absence by a majority of the remaining staff present.

5.

If the Library is closed at the time of the power failure, the public entrance to the Extended Study room should be locked and a sign left on or near the from entrance door indicating why the Library is closed.

The NDSU Policies and Procedures Manual, Section 164, Emergency Procedures, contains details and additional information regarding the following situations:
1. Emergency Services
2. Winter Storms
3. Tornados
4. Chemical/Radiation Accidents
5. Bomb Threats

At least one permanent employee, or his/her designate, in each area is responsible for closing that area before leaving for the day or evening.

Closing an area is defined as:

a. evacuating people from the area
b. turning off electrical equipment not intended to run unattended
c. turning off running water
d. transferring telephone calls to other points, if necessary
e. turning off lights (night lights will remain on)
f. locking doors that lead directly from an area into a public passageway.

Staff portions of an area may be closed earlier than public portions of the same area.

The Circulation staff, with the help of Campus Security, is responsible for closing all areas of the building, except the Extended Study, at the end of the working day.

The Division of Student Affairs announced NDSU procedures for winter storms.  Normally, snow or low temperatures are not reasons to close the University, but significant amounts of snow might warrant a delayed start.  Snow combined with severe windchills and blizzard conditions may warrant closing the University.

The following actions maybe be taken by NDSU:

• The University will be in full operation and all events will take place as scheduled.
• Morning, afternoon, or evening classes may be cancelled or all classes may be cancelled for the entire day.  All other aspects of the university will operate as usual when classes are cancelled.
• NDSU will be closed until noon or a specific time, or NDSU may be closed for the entire day.  In this situation, only a few designated emergency personned are required to report to work, such as power plant employees whose responsibilities require they be on duty.  Announcements regarding afternoon clasess will be made by 11 a.m.

Please check these radio and television stations for winter storm announcements:
• KLTA (Lite Rock - 105 FM
• KPFX (Fox - 107.9 FM
• KVOX (Froggy - 99.9 FM)
• Q-98 (98.7 FM)
• KFGO (790 AM)
• WDAY - TV(ABC)
• KVLY - TV(NBC)
• KXJB - TV(CBS)
• KFGO (Mighty - 790 AM; Moose Country - 101.9 FM)
• KVRI (The River 1700 AM)
• KVOX (Froggy 99.9)
• KULW (Kool - FM
• KVOX (The Ticket - AM)
• WDAY (930 AM; Y-94 FM)
• KDSU (ND Public Radio - 92.1 FM)
• KCCM (MN Public Radio - 91.1 FM)
• KCCD (MN Public Radio - 90.3 FM)
• KBOT (Wild Country - 104.1 FM)
• KDLM (1340 AM)
  
  

If the decision is to close the University, the Library will also be closed unless the Director calls upon the key employees to open it.

If the Library staff member is in doubt about whether to come to work, he/she should call the Library between 8 and 9 a.m.