I believe in the positive potential of programs staff in the security team. A balanced corrections librarian, for example, can provide good information, resources, and reading services while maintaining a safe and secure area. One of the key manners in which to do the latter is through contraband control.
There are many different areas of concern in a library. Here are three tips that may assist in finding contraband in any facility library:
1. Be weary when offenders ask for obscure law books. Once I received a request for an old law index book that dealt with “commerce and trade.” The book was old and out of date, which raised a red flag for me.
The requested topic of “commerce and trade” was an ironic indicator of the activity. I searched the book and found a hollowed area measuring six inches by one-half inch by one-and-a-half inches deep in the pages next to the binding.
It smelled of tobacco.
Granted, just because an offender requests an old book does not mean that the book will be used as a tobacco niche. However, if I did not follow the suspicion, that particular trading vessel would have remained in circulation.
2. Metal shelf braces can make formidable weapons that are the nightmare of corrections staff. Yet, they can be easy to dislodge and hide. Through persistence, an enterprising offender can work off the rivets that hold the metal to the shelves. And with a coordinated disruption or a timed action, the offender can remove the metal without detection and store it for later dissemination.
When a facility opens a library, staff should conduct an initial inventory of shelf braces, end caps, and shelves. Two daily inventory counts should be made after the initial count.
3. Wood is an overlooked weapons stock. I once saw a small part of oak shelf trim turned into an evil-looking eight-inch shank. It was sharpened easily, yet it was hard enough to do damage. Fortunately, this weapon was taken out of circulation before it was used.
We should remember that metal is not the only hazard. Just imagine the pain of a wooden spike in the neck.
Clearly, the library is not just the official place of learning. It also serves as an unofficial trading and weapons stock location. Therefore, staff should be aware of the potential dangers in a seemingly benign place like the library. Applying a comprehensive search with the above tips can make the difference between a safe day and pandemonium.
