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Hope Library Guides

Circulation Manual

Your one-stop guide to life at the Circulation Desk

Library Emergency Procedures

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 panic alarm switch under the desk. This will notify Campus Safety 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/or message her 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 Jessica, Todd, or Brian.
Access Services Supervisors Numbers

Heidi White

616-808-7420
Allison Van Liere

616-368-0440

Jessica Hronchek

616-283-7780

Lindsey Heidema

 616-403-8617
Department Heads  
Jessica Hronchek (Head of Collections and Access) 616-283-7780
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 Emergency Procedures flipbook.

🚨 Panic Alarms

Do not use the panic alarm for medical emergencies. Call 911.

If you accidentally hit the panic button, when Campus Safety calls, notify them it was an accident. As a part of the procedure you will be asked to meet them at the library door to confirm in person that it was an accident. As soon as you are able, use the 🚨Emergency Library Chat to communicate with all staff that it was an accident. If it appears that the Panic Alarm has been activated because of system testing please also share this over chat.

If you feel unsafe or threatened:

  1. Activate the panic alarm.

  2. Communicate with Campus Safety first, if you are able to. If you are safely able to do so, use the Emergency Library Chat to tell others in the library of the nature of the situation. If you know that there is no longer an immediate threat, notify all through the Emergency Library Chat that it is safe to return to the library.

If you feel uncomfortable:

  1. Disengage from the situation; if you cannot do that,

  2. Get a library staff member; if you cannot do that,

  3. Call Campus Safety (x7770); if you cannot do that,

  4. Use the panic button.

If the panic alarm goes off at your desk, check the 🚨 Emergency Library Chat Thread. If you see no updates there, leave the building and send a message through the thread so that other areas of the library know that the Panic Alarm has been activated. Check the 🚨 Emergency Library Chat Thread for updates on if it is safe to return to the building. If Campus Safety is sending campus texts, rely on them for the most official information.

   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.

  When to Call Campus Safety About Patron Behavior

Call Campus Safety (7770 from a campus phone or 616-395-7770 from a cell phone) if concerning patron behaviors violate campus policies or if a safety/wellness check is needed.

Potential examples include:

  • If a patron’s behavior is physically or verbally aggressive or threatening

  • If the patron’s behavior causes damage (or could potentially do damage) to library property

  • If a patron’s behavior causes a significant disruption to other people’s ability to use the library for its intended purpose, (e.g., yelling or very loud repeated noises)

  • If any patron is in possession of any alcohol or drugs or if the patron seems to be intoxicated

  • An outside organization is soliciting within the building (e.g., commercial, political, religious solicitation)

  • If it appears that safety and wellness checks are needed (e.g., if someone is sleeping for a very long time or does not seem to be well)

  • When in doubt, if there are concerning behaviors, call Campus Safety (and keep your supervisor informed).

Our location, if necessary: the Van Wylen Library address is 53 Graves Place. We are at the southwest corner of 10th and College Ave. The entrance to the building faces south.