Security staff duties in the Library

The role of the Security Officers in the Library is:
· to ensure the safety of students and staff.
· to deal with disruptive and distracting behaviour which disturbs Library users.
· to ensure equity of access to Library spaces in open areas.

In the general areas of the Library, the Security Officers should:

· ensure that no workplace health and safety issues are caused by students using the Library. This includes asking students to remove laptop cords if they are across passageways, and to move if they are blocking fire exits or passageways to fire exits. Students are able to sit on the floor providing they do not obstruct egress ways, and may use their laptops providing the cords are not a trip hazard.

· ask students who are disruptive or distracting other students from study to lower their noise and/or modify their behaviour. If school students are disruptive, the students can be told that they must reduce their noise. If students repeat this behaviour, they can be given two warnings; if they need to be spoken to a third time, they can be asked to leave the Library.

· ask students to observe the quiet areas of the Library if they are disturbing other students. In the period leading up to exam times each semester, the Library will nominate certain areas of the Library as ‘quiet areas’. During this time in these areas, students will be able to have conversations which do not disturb or disrupt other students.

· remove students’ belongings from the desks in open areas if students are absent from their desks for a period of time during times when all desks are in use. Currently Security are asked to place a notice of intent to remove belongings if the desk is vacant for more than 15 minutes as a warning to students; if a desk is vacant for more than half an hour, the Security Officer will place the students’ belongings on the floor under or beside the desk, and leave another notice of intent to remove belongings noting the time the belongings were placed on the floor. Any items of value such as laptops should be taken to the Security Office for storage and the Service Coordinator notified of this action.

In presentation pods (Level 1):
· If requested by the Service Coordinator, the Security Officer will ask students to move from a presentation pod if the pod is booked for another group and the current incumbents refuse to move.

In Quiet Rooms (Levels 1 & 2):
· Security Officers are not required to patrol Quiet Rooms unless they are directed to do so by the Service Coordinator. Any issues raised by students using the Quiet Rooms eg double bookings, should be referred to the Service Coordinator.

Food and Drink
· The Library has changed the food and drink policy as follows: Hot and cold drinks are allowed throughout the Library; food is allowed only on Levels 3, 4 and 5. Students using Quiet Rooms are able to have food in these rooms.


Security Officers are not expected to:

· wake sleeping students

· remove belongings or deal with noise in the Postgraduate (Level 3) and Higher Degree Research (Level 5) spaces unless specifically requested by the Service Coordinator.

· ask students to remove their feet from seats.

· open lockers for students in the Postgrad or HDR spaces; please see the Service Coordinator if this is required.


Jennifer Peasley
Deputy University Librarian
November 2011