Emergency Procedures

The Library Director will be responsible for addressing the media in any library emergency. The Director will notify the Beaver County Commissioners Office as soon as possible.

Tornado

During Library Hours: All Library employees and any patrons inside the library when tornado sirens are sounded will proceed to the safety of the vault. The Library Staff will ensure the safety of all patrons. Books and materials may be replaced. Lives are not replaceable. Patrons and staff may leave the vault upon the “all clear” signal. The safety and integrity of the building structure will be the same as a tornado occurring after Library hours.

After Library Hours: The Library Director will inspect the premises of the Library as soon as possible. After determining the safety of the building and/or assessing any damage, the Director will inform the County Commissioners’ office of any structural, material or other damage to the building. Once the building is deemed safe, the Library will open for regular hours. If the structure is deemed unsafe, the Director will, with the County Commissioners, determine any repairs to be made and schedule a date to reopen.

Fire

During Library Hours: Safety of the Library staff and patrons is of the utmost importance. A small fire which may be contained and extinguished by the fire extinguishers located at the doors of the Library may be extinguished by the Library staff. If the fire is not then contained and/or extinguished, the Library Direcotr is responsible for seeing all staff and patrons exit the building immediately. The Library staff will meet at the west door of the County courthouse. The Library Director will report the fire to the city fire department and the County Commissioners’ office and assist in damage assessment.

After Library Hours: The Library Director will inspect the premises of the Library as soon as possible. After determining the safety fo the building and/or assessing any damage, the Director will inform the county Commissioners’ office of any structural, material or other damage to the building. If the building is safe, the Library will open for regular hours. If the structure is unsafe, the Director will, withe County Commissioners, determine any repairs to be made and schedule a date to reopen.

Medical

If a medical emergency occurs at any time during regular Library hours, the Library staff will call 911 for emergency services. Every effort will be made to assist the family of the injured person.

Flood

In the event of flooding and/or water damage, the Library Director will inspect the premises of the Library as soon as possible. After determining the safety of the building and/or assessing any damage, the Director will inform the County Commissioners’ office of any structural, material or other damage to the building. If the building is deemed safe, the Library will open for regular hours. If the structure is deemed unsafe, the Director will, with the County Commissioners determine any repairs to be made and schedule a date to reopen.

Terrorist/Bomb Threat

Safety of the Library staff and patrons is of the utmost importance. In the event of any terrorist or bomb threat, whether personal (suicide bomber) or a purported conventional bomb placed within the building, 911 will be called immediately. I a library staff member is able to inform the 911 dispatcher the phone line should left open, where the dispatcher may hear any conversation between the Library Staff and a suspected terrorist/bomber.

In the event of a phoned or written (non-suicide or conventional) bomb threat, the Library Director is responsible for seeing all staff and patrons leave the building immediately. The Library staff will meet at the west door of the County Courthouse. The Library Director will report the bomb threat to the city fire and police departments and the County Commissioners office, and assist in damage assessment.

Airborn or Waterborn Contaminants

In the event of threat to the public health through air born or water born contaminants, the Library will immediately close until such threat is past. Safety of the Library staff and patrons is of the utmost imprtance This policy does not refer to seasonal diseases such as the flu, but instead addresses direct, aggressive threats to the public health or the health of all staff and patrons leave the building immediately. The Library staff will meet at the west door of the County Courthouse and if possible call the city fire and police departments and the County Commissioner’s office and assist in damage assessment.