Library Building Security (1.802)

Title: 1.802 LIBRARY BUILDING SECURITY
Code:                         1 Administration Services
Chapter:                    1.800 Safety
Type of Policy:            Departmental
Date Developed:        21 November 2006
Date Revised: 19 April 2011
Revised by: Beth Farley, Pam Kiesner and Christine Perkins
Developed by:          Pam Kiesner
Approved by:             Library Board of Trustees

See also: Library procedure 1.802.101 Closing when Facilites staff is not present – Central Library

Codes and laws: RCW 27.12.210 Library trustees – Organization – Bylaws – Powers and duties.

Scope

This policy applies to all Library staff, volunteers, visitors, and selected City of Bellingham staff.

Definitions

Restricted areas: areas in Library buildings not open to the public.
Key card reader doors: doors with key card readers which are kept locked at all times and can be unlocked by a programmed key card.
City of Bellingham key card: a plastic card, similar to a credit card, containing data on an embedded magnetized strip that can electronically unlock a door; includes City department, staff name, and photograph.
Barkley Branch coded doors: doors at the Barkley Branch with electronic code locks requiring users to enter a code to unlock the door. Barkley Company programs the key code readers.

Policy/Conditions

Library staff have access to restricted areas of the Library.

Management Team and selected staff have key cards with 24/7 access to Central Library and the Fairhaven Branch.
Management Team and selected staff know door codes to the Barkley Branch and the location of the staff workroom key.
Selected staff have key cards with extended access to the Central Library.
All other staff have regular key card access to the Central Library.
Selected staff have key card access tot he Fairhaven Branch.
Selected staff are issued keys to Central Library and Fairhaven Branch.
Administrative Assistant keeps master list of staff key card and coded door access, and any other keys issued.

Selected City of Bellingham staff have access to restricted areas in the library.

Police and Firefighters have access to master keys located in a lock box outside the front doors of the Central Library and Fairhaven Branch.
Facilities staff have keys and key cards with 24/7 access to the Central Library and Fairhaven Branch.
Representatives of the Barkley Company, including designated City custodians, have access to door codes at the Barkley Branch and have keys to the staff workroom.
City Mail Messengers have key cards with access to the Central Library.
Library Director or designee may provide programmed key cards to others.

Friends of the Library and other volunteers have access to restricted areas when library staff are present.

Friends and volunteers are encouraged to work in the Library during open hours, but may work in the Central Library and the Fairhaven Branch when library staff is present.
For their safety, Friends or other volunteers are encouraged not to work in restricted areas alone.
When necessary, Friends may enter the garage, when unlocked, and dial 200 on the garage phone. A staff member will come and unlock the interior door.
Selected Friends have key cards to limited Central Library doors. Administrative Assistant keeps master list of key cards issued to Friends.

Those with keys, key cards, or code knowledge will not loan or give keys or keycards or pass on key codes to anyone.

Lost keys or key cards are reported immediately to the Administrative Assistant.
Administrative Assistant issues keys and key cards to staff and volunteers at hiring and reclaims them when they no longer work for the library.

Members of the public have limited access to restricted areas.

Visitors to library staff are accompanied by a staff member while in restricted areas. If a visitor is scheduled to arrive before the library opens, prior arrangement with a staff member must be made, so the visitor can be met at the Library door.
Delivery persons may enter the garage, when unlocked, and dial 200 on the garage phone. A staff member will come and unlock the interior door.

6. Staff, volunteers, and contract workers wear name tags or key cards as identification while working in the library.

All library staff wear City of Bellingham key cards while working in the library.
All library staff, with the exception of Library Pages, wear name tags while working in the library.
All Friends of the Library wear identification badges while working in the library.
Other City staff wear City of Bellingham key cards and/or other identification while working in the library.
Contract workers wear identification badges provided by the City of Bellingham Facilities Maintenance Department while working in the library.

7. Key card reader doors are locked at all times

Exceptions:

Door to the Administrative Assistant’s office is kept unlocked when the Assistant is present.
Delivery Entrance door is kept unlocked from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Certain Central Library key card reader doors may be programmed to open for groups that have reserved a community meeting room after hours.
Fairhaven’s exterior key card reader door may be programmed to open for groups that have reserved a community meeting room after hours.

8. Central Library keeps its automatic garage door closed.

The automatic garage door may remain open temporarily to allow exhaust from Library truck to dissipate.

9. Library Board reviews this policy.

This policy is periodically reviewed, revised, or reaffirmed by the Library Board of Trustees.