"We Just Don't Have the Money!" - How to Improve Security, Protect Visitors, Staff,
and Collections with Reduced Staff and Budgets
The story is pretty much the same all over the country. Budget cuts, reduced
staff, hiring freezes, and yet the duty to protect has not gone away. In fact,
it has been elevated because of heightened fears and escalated threats to public
safety. So how does the astute administrator balance the need to provide a safe
environment with a lack of funds and personnel? This session presented by a nationally
recognized authority on the protection of cultural institutions walks the audience
through reasonable, practical, cost-effective steps to improve the institution's
protection, make better spending decisions, and meet the demands of our ever-changing
national environment. Attendees will learn how to develop a realistic protection
plan based on available staff and budget. Emergency response planning is included.
Alternative sources of acquiring equipment and electronics will be identified.
Necessary improvements based on actual threat to patrons, assets/collections and
staff will be outlined in detail. This includes the need to handle crises of varying
proportions.
Is Your Institution Safe?
No one likes to think about it, but any institution may be faced with the prospect
of violent or other criminal acts unfolding in our cultural facilities. This program
presents a professional, safe, and cost-effective approach to prevention, preparation,
and response. The program leader will discuss and demonstrate proper methods of
defusing potentially violent situations, identifying potential troublemakers,
protecting patrons and staff, improving employee awareness, and responding to
unplanned emergencies. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss particular
problems, and determine practical solutions. This seminar is a must for any institution
that opens its doors to the public. Extensive handout material and topical policy
information will be provided. Participants will learn how to reduce the threat
of violent incidents and other loss, promote staff awareness and customer service
in relation to violence prevention, identify potential threats, and de-escalate
potentially violent confrontations.
Ejecting Unruly Patrons
In a nationwide survey, we found few institutions with a published policy on
how to remove persons who violate rules or refuse to follow directions. For the mutual protection of staff and other patrons, as well as reducing litigation,
the institution needs a firm policy. It's not enough to put it in writing...staff needs to be familiar with those
procedures that assure everyone is treated fairly, and that employees are not
exposed to any potential threat. This session walks attendees through the most reasonable, most effective procedures
in initiating a policy, and assuring it is adhered to.
Protecting Valuable Collections
Exposure to natural disasters, the intentional or unintentional acts of visitors,
or the acts of employees all serve to threaten our collections. Unscrupulous alarm dealers, poorly screened and/or trained security officers
only add to the threat. This session addresses the most reasonable protective measures available to
institutions of any size.
Assaults on Public Institutions
A very topical, nationally acclaimed program about incidents that have occurred
in public facilities. The program touches on recent violent events around the country – what went
right and what went wrong – then shifts quickly to outline reasonable prevention
measures and cost-effective self-help methods of dealing with similar incidents. This is a “how-to” session, dealing in very real scenarios and life-safety issues. It presents the professional and safe approach to prevention, preparation and
response.
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