April 2007
|
Small
Libraries Roundtable April 2007 |
Topic: Dealing with Difficult Patrons
Notes
from the April 2007 Meeting
NOTES
FROM THE SESSION:
Policy is the first line of defense.
-have
policy in place before behavior/incident occurs
-don't write policy directed at an individual
Defining "difficult"-
first step towards knowing what approach to take:
-kids v. teens v. adults
-Irritating / quirky / lonely
-Mentally ill*
-Dangerous
(*if from
a facility --> tip: talk to facility administration)
Staff Training
-Sample procedures for staff from
the Kinderhook Memorial Library
-Train staff re: library policy; how to deal with complaints from patrons about
another patron; when
to direct the person to the director
-Importance of a sense of humor
-Give staff latitude to solve / resolve on their own when the patron is upset
about their fines.
Examples:
- Waive fines for patrons that get irate if below a stated dollar amount
-"Read-Down-Your-Fines"
Program at the Queens Library - library buck for every hour kids spend reading
in the library
-Bartering for fine - work off fines by volunteering at the library
What to say to patron
that monopolizes or is argumentative:
"I'd like to talk to you right now but…"
"You'll have to excuse me…"
"I'm Switzerland" - library is a neutral place where everyone is welcome
Know when conversation needs to be removed from public space
Kids
-Educate staff as to the environment you want to establish within the library
Raising parental awareness: Sign-off
form to communicate to parents that the library is not responsible for what
their kid takes out / watches; Parent permission slips; "This is what it
means to have a library card" - "full disclosure"
-Internet Use policy and kids: parental sign-off
-Recognize the difference between irritating and malicious behavior
-Perception of other parents may cause problems
-Compliment good behavior within hearing distance of peers
-Use humor:"You just missed our rollerblading hour you'll have to take
those off." (Anne Jordan)
-Give warnings
-Talk to parent / letter to parent
-Last resort: tell kid they can't come back for X number of day(s) when they
have violated library policy a number of times
Kids suspended from school:
-School tutor @ library - getting school to let you know they are coming /ask
permission
-Individual tutor running business out of library - most libraries do not allow
this and write it into their policy
Porn on PACs
-Define procedures, discipline in your Internet
Use Policy
-Train staff -Help staff know what to say if they have to address this issue
with a patron; if they aren't comfortable doing it let them know it's OK to
refer the interaction to director
-Kids and the Internet: parental sign-off on policy; policy should make it clear
that it is the duty of parents to oversee their kids in the library
Hygiene / odor / sick
@ library
-Recognizing different staff, have different thresholds
-Tip: Wait for another patron to complain
-Incident
report form
-What
to say
Unstable / Mental Illness
Incident
reports - create paper trail - establish pattern of behavior for if you
have to call the police
Avoidance of escalating incident (handouts)
Give them choices - "behave or leave"
Back up initial staff person
Look for antecedents / triggers, this can help head off problems
Throwing someone out
of the library:
-Policy must define circumstances
-Administrative procedure should be followed
-Based on behavior of patron not opinion of staff
-Incident
report filed
Only one person working
at the library?
-Tip: Code word/phrase to use when calling a nearby staff person/volunteer to
come over to the library and assist
Animals in library policy
Deny entry or if you allow, then define ill behavior.
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