Image courtesy of U.S. Navy
“How many of you would be prepared to handle an active shooter in your library? How many of you have an active shooter policy?” Few hands were raised when BreAnne Meier from the North Dakota State Library asked these relevant questions at the Active Shooter Policies in Libraries Program at the American Library Association (ALA)’s recent Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. Meier described active shooter situations as ones where someone is actively engaged in killing, has access to a confined area or population, and is sometimes motivated by revenge. As a result, she explained, these situations are unpredictable and can change quickly, often lasting for such a short time as ten to 15 minutes.
The recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando lent tragic immediacy to the topic as Meier explained what librarians should and should not do—and how to ensure the safety of library patrons—if faced with an active shooter. In sharing the policy at the North Dakota State Library, she advised librarians to either run; hide; or as a last resort, fight. If you can’t run, hide. Find an office. Close a door. Push a desk against a door. If you have to fight, don’t fight fair, advised Meier. Use a fire extinguisher, if necessary. But, be sure to commit to whatever you decide to do.