3M 2302, 3802, 3801 6.3Hands-onPractice, 6.5What To Do When The Alarm Sounds, Training Your Staff

Training Your Staff 3M Library Security System

6.3Hands-on Practice

After reviewing the Operator’s Manual, your staff should get some actual hands-on experience in using the 3M Materials Flow Management products. We suggest you start by demonstrating the proper techniques for each stripping procedure. You may wish to conduct the actual practice as follows:

SHave your staff review the 3M Materials Flow Management Customer Training Video included in your customer training kit. The video includes an index and running time clock for easy review of specific sections of the video.

SSet up your circulation accessories on a table along with security strips and a few bayonets.

SLet each staff member practice installing the security strips that you use:

B1 Strips	-	in the spine of
		books
B2 Strips	-	in the gutter of
		books
DVM-1 Strips	- on video tapes
DCD-2 Overlays	- on compact discs
DAC-1 Cassette	-	on audio cassettes
Strips

SLet each staff member practice desensitizing and resensitizing materials with the appropriate circulation accessories.

6.5What To Do When The Alarm Sounds

Note

The steps that follow are suggested procedures only. We suggest all employees develop a complete understanding of their management’s policies and follow them as directed. The response should be consistent for all patrons caught in an alarm. It is also important that employees be familiar with state and local laws governing patrons’ rights and responsibilities.

Sooner or later, it’s bound to happen. The audible alarm goes off. In multiple corridor systems, the light at the top of the panel will indicate in which corridor the alarm occurred. What you and your staff do in response to the alarm will depend on your library’s policy and the laws in your community. Always follow your library’s specific procedures. 3M offers these guidelines as a suggested supplement:

First, don’t panic. Remain calm and courteous. You can’t be positive that the person who triggered the alarm is stealing. Never accuse anyone of theft by word, by facial expression, or by tone of voice. The alarm may have been triggered accidentally, so always respond in a positive, non-threatening manner.

6.4Review Of Your Library’s Security Policies

Before practicing how to respond to alarms, your staff should be familiar with your library’s security policies as they relate to theft of materials. Your policy should be put in writing and kept in your training kit in addition to any procedures you already follow to keep your staff informed of security measures. It is particularly important for staff members to know what procedures your library follows when theft is suspected or when it is necessary to contact a local law enforcement agency.

A critical phase of staff training concerns the proper steps to take when the security system alarm sounds. The value of tact and courtesy when handling this delicate situation cannot be overemphasized. Your staff members should receive as much preparation as possible to make them feel comfortable. Only then will they be likely to deal successfully with patrons who activate the alarm.

6-2 E 3M 1999 September