Anti-Racism Initiative

Library Public Safety Team

At a Glance

Have questions about your research?
We can help!

""

Project Team Description

When the Library Public Safety team was convened, library staff had identified areas for the team to begin addressing through the framework. Initial areas to address included: Review of Library policy as conveyed through Library Code of Conduct, specifically as it involves guidelines and procedures regarding Campus Security Officers (CSO) and UCPD and their role in enforcing security measures within the physical UCLA Library locations; and how the LCC and security protocol impact EDI issues for patrons and staff in the library. Evaluate communication practices and procedures between Library staff, CSO and UCPD. Re-evaluating the way library spaces are monitored, patrolled, and the way LCC is enforced and consider non law enforcement options for conflict resolution.

Project Team Goals

As the team has met to address these issues, we have identified principles and areas to prioritize library safety though an anti-racism framework:

Welcoming and Safe Space: It is important to us that the Library be a welcoming and safe environment for all visitors and staff. Believe that the Library should be an inherently safe place in order to facilitate the library’s mission of accessing knowledge. Collaborating with communities of engagement on identifying principles and priorities to ensure accountability.

Public Saftey: Re-examining what public safety means to communities of engagement and how we uphold that public safety. Specifically, we are looking to address public safety through a lens of anti-racism that moves away from a model of dependency on policing that perpetuates harmful treatment of Black and Brown communities. We are committed to identifying means of conflict resolution outside of armed response. While also remaining cognizant and transparent about the limits to our control over the practices and presence of UCPD on campus.

Transparency (Communication): Educating library staff and visitors about UCPD policies and the impact the policies have in order to mitigate potential conflict. Improving internal communication amongst Library staff regarding safety issues and conflict resolution resources.