The staff of the Lincoln Lawrence Franklin Regional Library shall make every effort to provide a safe and comfortable environment for patrons and staff. In order to do so, the Library is committed to maintaining a vigilant state of emergency preparedness because all libraries are susceptible to disasters and emergencies. An emergency is any situation that may adversely affect patron or staff safety or prevent library staff from providing satisfactory service to the public. In the event of an emergency, the safety of patrons and staff shall take precedence over any other concern.
Emergency Evacuations or Closures
Lincoln Lawrence Franklin Regional Library is a public service organization and will make every reasonable effort to remain open during posted hours. Should a situation develop, which would endanger the safety of the patrons or staff, staff have the authority to evacuate. The Director has the authority to close due to dangerous situations or ones that impede normal library operations.
In the event of an emergency evacuation during business hours, staff and patrons shall re-group in the designated area out of harm’s way.
Lincoln County: west side of building beyond parking area (MSA side)
Lawrence County: parking area behind courthouse
Franklin County: parking area behind courthouse
New Hebron: grassy area south of the building
In the event of a library closure, the staff will post notices at the library, online, and with local media.
Situations that could warrant an emergency evacuation or closure include, but are not limited to:
I. Bomb Threat
If a bomb threat is received by library staff, the threat will be treated as genuine until proven to be otherwise. Staff will notify 911 and evacuate the building, which will then be searched by fire and police officials.
II. Building Structure Failure
III. Fire or Fire Alarm
All library branches are equipped with smoke detectors and/or fire alarms. In the event of an active fire or smoke alarm signal, or any suggestion of danger from any source, staff shall quickly ascertain that the alarm signal is not a false alarm.
If the source of danger is real or cannot be determined, staff shall evacuate the building immediately and notify 911 from a location outside the library. Note: although the alarm system at the Lincoln County and Lawrence County libraries will automatically notify the fire and/or police officials, staff at these locations should still contact 911.
If the situation can be controlled with a fire extinguisher, the staff shall do so immediately, but still evacuate the affected area and contact 911.
IV. Flooding
Flooding can be triggered by a variety of causes including heavy and prolonged rain or storm damage, broken/damaged water pipes, air conditioner leaks, or water overflow in restrooms. If the flooding is widespread, then staff should evacuate the building. In the event of any flooding, staff should notify the proper authorities (city of county maintenance). If the water to the building has to be turned off for more than one hour, then the library should close.
V. HVAC Equipment Failure
OSHA’s recommendations for indoor workplace temperatures are based on the type of work being performed and the level of physical activity required. The guidelines suggest that for office work that involves light physical activity, the ideal temperature range is between 65°F and 76°F. Humidity must also be taken into account when determining the appropriate indoor temperature, as high humidity can make a warm environment feel even hotter.
In the event that the library's heating and cooling equipment cannot function properly to maintain temperatures within five degrees of this recommended temperature range, the library may close. If the library closes, it will remain closed until appropriate temperatures can be maintained and/or the equipment failure has been resolved.
Staff should notify their immediate supervisor and the proper authorities (city or county maintenance) of any HVAC equipment issues or failures.
VI. Pandemic
A pandemic is a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease over a whole country or the world at a particular time. If the government declares a pandemic emergency, the library will follow the direction of the Governor of Mississippi and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in order to close or restrict access to the library.
VII. Power Outage or Failure
If a library cannot be open due to safety issues, or a power outage lasts longer than one hour, the library will close for the remainder of the power outage.
VIII. Severe Weather
Staff shall monitor any approaching weather conditions likely to affect the library. Use of radio, television, Internet broadcasts, telephone contact with emergency personnel, visual inspection, and any other form of information gathering shall be used. If conditions are such to require taking immediate shelter, staff shall calmly but quickly move everyone in the library to the designated shelter areas. Staff cannot force patrons to stay in the library.
Lincoln County: west lobby near extension room and hallway near elevator
Lawrence County: back hallway near staff lounge/kitchen
Franklin County: hallway outside restrooms
New Hebron: kitchen
Staff and patrons shall remain in these areas until conditions improve.
In the event of a severe storm situation, the Director will determine whether the library will close. Library closings will follow the advice of the local school boards and city and county Civil Defense. The library will remain closed until the streets are passable as determined by local street and safety personnel and electricity is available.
Safety and Security Situations
The library is strongly committed to providing an environment that is safe and secure for patrons and staff, while protecting the building, furniture, equipment, and materials of the library.
The library controls entrance and exit of all visitors and staff. Alarms will sound when any emergency exit is activated. Cameras are positioned inside and outside the building to monitor and record all activity. Library policy establishes staff procedures for dealing with inappropriate behavior. Police are contacted as needed. Any time an alarm goes off or any notice of danger is received, an Incident Report shall be filed.
Safety and security situations that may affect library operations include, but are not limited to:
I. Dangerous Behavior
The library’s Patron Behavior Policy defines what behavior is considered inappropriate or dangerous and outlines procedures for handling these situations.
II. Elevator Malfunction
The Lincoln County Public Library has a public elevator which is regularly inspected to assure maximum safety. Should the elevator not function properly in any way, the elevator company shall be notified. Should the elevator become stuck between floors or the door not open, with passengers inside, staff shall immediately call 911 as well as Lincoln County maintenance to obtain help. After the incident, use of the elevator shall not resume until the elevator company has been informed and the elevator has been properly repaired and certified safe.
III. Hazardous Materials
In the event of a hazardous materials incident in the community, staff should follow the directives given by emergency officials regarding library evacuation or closing and notify the Director as soon as possible.
If hazardous materials are spilled or exposed at the library, staff should report the incident immediately to the Fire and Police Departments for instructions. Staff should clear the affected area and keep patrons and staff from the vicinity. Staff should be prepared to identify the hazardous material and describe the extent of the exposure and evacuate the library if needed.
IV. Infestation
Damaging insects may be introduced into the library environment in various ways. Pests that can be damaging or a nuisance to library materials and the building include but are not limited to bed bugs, cockroaches, silverfish, booklice, beetles, termites, and rodents.
If staff spot something suspicious in the library or in returned materials, any affected materials should be isolated immediately and a supervisor notified. Depending on the type of infestation, materials, equipment or furniture may be removed for treatment or disposal. Removal of any library materials, equipment or furniture must be noted for inventory records.
V. Medical Emergency
Medical emergencies and injuries may occur in the library, or persons outside the library may come into the library seeking assistance. When a patron or staff member exhibits medical distress, emergency medical support shall be called. Staff shall follow the instructions of the emergency personnel.
In the case of a minor medical emergency or until medical support is available for a major medical emergency, staff should only render first aid if trained and approved by the patron or patron’s caregiver.
In the event of any medical emergency or accident, an Incident Report should be completed.
VI. Missing Person / Unattended Child
When a patron (adult, child, or vulnerable adult) is reported missing in the library, staff should notify their immediate supervisor and conduct a search. If the missing patron has not been found in 10 minutes, staff should call 911. Staff should continue searching until the missing patron is found, or the police arrive.
Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times while on library premises (see Safe Child Policy).
A vulnerable adult is functionally, mentally or physically unable to care for themselves. If the safety of a vulnerable adult is in doubt, staff should attempt to contact the caregiver before calling 911, unless there is an immediate safety concern.
In the event a vulnerable adult is still at the library after closing, staff will wait 15 minutes and then call 911. Attempts will be made during those 15 minutes to reach a caregiver.
VII. Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew can spread quickly in a library environment and can prove to be costly in terms of loss of materials. If mold is found present in the library, staff should report the mold to the proper authorities (county or city maintenance) to eliminate the source of the moisture. Staff should then follow cleaning protocols to remove the mold and prevent any further growth. If mold is found on materials, staff shall follow procedures to determine if the materials are salvageable. Any permanently damaged materials must be removed from inventory and disposed of.
VIII. Vandalism or Theft
The library is strongly committed to protecting its collections and other properties from loss, theft, mutilation or any other harm. Library collections are monitored and inventoried on a regular schedule.
Vandalism or theft of library property should be immediately reported to a supervisor and an Incident Report completed. Depending on the extent of the vandalism or theft, or in the case of the theft of a patron’s belongings, police should be notified and a report made. Loss of any library property must be documented for inventory purposes.
In the event of a robbery in the library, staff and patrons should make every effort to comply with the assailant’s demands. Police authorities should be notified as soon as possible, by means of a panic button or by phone. Staff and patrons may shelter in place or evacuate the library as needed. An Incident Report and police report should be completed.
IX. Weapon in the Library
If there is an active shooter or violent intruder in the library, staff should Run, Hide, Fight.
Run
Staff should know where all emergency exits are in the building. If there is an active situation in the building, staff and patrons should leave the building, if possible.
Hide
If staff cannot get out of the building:
- Hide in a room, preferably with a door that locks.
- Turn off the lights.
- Push heavy objects against the door.
- Silence cell phones.
- Keep quiet.
- Curl up into the smallest possible target and get as low to the ground as possible.
Fight
Staff should fight only as a last resort, by grabbing any available object (furniture, equipment, materials) to hurl at the attacker.
If there is an active emergency in the community the library will implement lockdown. During lockdown, staff should lock all entrances to the library and direct patrons to safe places away from windows. Lockdown will end once staff has confirmed safety with appropriate personnel.
Approved 9.10.2019
Reviewed 11.17.2022
Reviewed 6.10.2025
Updated and Approved 6.10.2025