As part of the Ex-Libris Fall webinar series, on Thursday November 20, 2025 Ex-Libris is featuring a presentation and Q & A/ discussion entitled “Library Violence & Staff Safety”.
The speaker, Heather Turnbull from PAVE Prevention, is seeking input from Canadian libraries on their successful practices and strategies in maintaining safe spaces in their facilities. For those wishing to participate in a very brief three-question survey, all data collected will be anonymously attributed, unless otherwise permitted. The compilation of data will be a North American summary shared in the webinar, and otherwise freely available to all subsequently.
Please contact Heather directly at heather@paveprevention.com by Friday, November 14 if you wish to participate, answering the following questions:
- What methods or approaches have you found helpful/successful in maintaining safety, as well as recovering from violent incidents? And who has been instrumental in implementing and maintaining these methods (staff; leadership; a combination; other)?
- How did you go about resourcing or funding these methods?
- What advice can you provide libraries embarking on a safety strategy to match the reality of today’s incidents/environment?
You are also welcome to contact Heather by phone at 416.859.5630 . We thank you in advance for your consideration and look forward to seeing you on November 20th.
Ex Libris presents its Fall 2025 webinar:
Library Violence and Staff Safety
Thursday, November 20, 1:00 pm Eastern, online via Zoom
This webinar is free to attend and is open to members and non-members of Ex Libris Association. The Zoom connection information will be shared with Ex Libris members approximately one month prior to the event. Non-members may reach out to Todd Kyle at tkyle@bramptonlibrary.ca for the connection link.
Canada’s Public Libraries have traditionally been regarded as welcoming spaces offering a variety of educational, learning, and social engagement opportunities for their patrons. However, as resource insufficiencies have become more acute in our society, vulnerable community members increasingly look to libraries for shelter, health care, and food supports. Consequently, library staff are feeling ill-equipped to manage these situations, especially when vulnerable patrons with complex needs may exhibit hostile and aggressive behaviour such as verbal and physical attacks.
How can public libraries provide physically and emotionally safer and more secure environments for staff and patrons while protecting their privacy, and maintaining open, accessible and welcoming spaces?
This session will examine the current landscape of behaviour in ‘library land’ both in Canada and the US, and include successful practices in mitigating disruptive or threatening incidents. Particular emphasis will be placed on sharing an innovative, trauma-informed approach to prevention that measurably improves staff resiliency for physical, emotional and psychological safety.
About the Webinar Presenter:
Heather Turnbull is an award-winning learning and development professional with 20+ years’ experience in designing and delivering real world curriculum that optimizes individual, team and organizational growth. Her work facilitating career and membership engagement programming includes assisting Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs) overcome barriers in accessing the Canadian labour market.
Heather’s approach and philosophy draw upon the discipline of the martial arts: she is a world champion gold medalist and 6th degree Black Belt Martial Artist (Renshi). In addition to designing and facilitating human safety programs for corporations and community organizations at PAVE Prevention (www.paveprevention.com), Heather advocates on behalf of marginalized and at-risk persons, especially women and girls, impacted by violence and trauma.