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Hope Library Guides

Technical Services Manual

Manual for Technical Services student employees

Campus Safety and Emergencies

   Calling Campus Safety

This section is a short overview of personal safety situations. Please familiarize yourself with the content of the red Emergency Binder for more detailed information on all forms of emergency scenarios (natural disaster, flooding etc).

Your safety is our priority. If a patron or situation is making you feel unsafe while working, do not approach the patron or situation on your own. Call Campus Safety immediately and let them address it. 

Emergency Phone Numbers

  • From any campus phone: 911 will go directly to Campus Safety. Campus Safety will call regional 911 to ensure a quick response.
  • From your cell phone: 616-395-7000 calls Campus Safety.

Non-Emergency Campus Safety Line

  • From any campus phone: x7770
  • From your cell phone: 616-395-7770

Procedure

  1. Call Campus Safety from a place the patron cannot see or hear you. If the situation is happening at the Circulation Desk and you cannot leave to call Campus Safety, use the silent alarm switch under the desk. This will notify both Campus Safety and the DML desk upstairs that you need help.
  2. Tell Campus Safety where you are and describe the patron and their whereabouts to the best of your ability. 
  3. After the emergency is dealt with, call Allison. If she doesn't answer, leave a message and send her an email describing the situation and its resolution/status.
  4. If you cannot reach your supervisor by phone: Start calling the department heads listed below. If no one answers, leave a phone message and move on to the next person on the list. Call until you reach Kelly, Dave, Todd, or Brian.
Access Services Supervisors Numbers

Heidi White

616-808-7420
Allison Van Liere

616-368-0440

Dave O'Brien

616-820-9114
Department Heads  
Kelly Jacobsma (Dean of Libraries) 616-566-6667
Dave O'Brien (Head of Access Services) 616-786-3978
Todd Wiebe (Head of Research & Instruction) 616-403-7816
Brian Yost (Head of Technical Services) 616-928-5718

Additional phone numbers are listed in the red Emergency Procedures Binder

   Non-Emergency Harassment

If any patron, whether a student, a Hope employee, or a non-Hope community member, is making you feel uncomfortable in any way, let a library staff member know immediately. Never assume that it's "not a big deal." Your safety and well-being are always more important than helping a patron.

If you experience discrimination or harassment based on ability, age, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, race, sex, or sexual orientation, file a discrimination & harassment report with the Title IX Coordinator here. All permanent Hope employees are mandatory Title IX reporters. This means that if you tell a Hope employee about an instance of harassment, they are are required to report it to the Title IX Coordinator.

Examples of harassment:

  • Touching or invading your personal space.
  • Commenting on your appearance, clothes, body, or personal life.
  • Mentioning their sexual preferences.
  • Making comments that are sexist, racist, ableist, or homophobic.
  • Stalking.
  • Staring.
  • Anything else that makes you feel uncomfortable.

What to do:

  • Remain at the desk or in a public area. Don't go with the person to another part of the library.
  • Try to disengage as soon as possible and remove yourself from the situation. 
  • Go find a library staff member or supervisor on duty.
  • Check in with your supervisor to make sure they are aware of what happened.