Panhandlers and solicitors are in violation of Princeton University policy.

Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 8-1000.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

Fill out a library incident report and notify Dottie Pearson at 8-3215.

A weapon may be defined as any dangerous object. In addition to guns of all sorts, weapons include knives, switchblades, and box cutters.
If you suspect that a patron is carrying a weapon:

Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 911.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

• Alert the rest of the staff immediately.
• Do not provoke a confrontation. Keep your distance!
• Give an accurate description of the person.

The University defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

• submission to or rejection of such conduct is made implicitly or explicitly a term or condition of instruction, employment, or participation in University activity;
• submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for evaluation in making academic or personnel decisions affecting an individual;
• such verbal or physical conduct has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work, academic performance, or living conditions by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

If this behavior is observed:

Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 911.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

• If the offender is still in the building, alert all other staff immediately.
• If there is a victim of assault, allow the person to sit quietly in a private office while waiting for Public Safety or Library Security.
• Notify Dottie Pearson at 8-3215.

If you are receiving harassing or obscene phone calls, hang up immediately.

If the calls persist:
Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 8-1000.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

• If a caller is upset about Library policy or a bill, speak calmly and firmly.
• Listen to the complaint, clarify and explain the Library policy.
• If the patron is still not satisfied, suggest that s/he speak to your supervisor. If the supervisor is not available, give the supervisor's name, phone number, and hours when s/he can be reached.
• If the patron becomes abusive or unreasonable, state calmly that you are going to terminate the call, and then do so.
• If the patron is irate because of the inability to get through the Library's busy lines and/or voice mail, simply explain that priority must be given to patrons in the Library, and all of the service desks have people waiting to be helped. Suggest that the patron call at a less busy time.

If an automatic book detection system goes off:

• Always assume the innocence of the patron.
• Ask if the person has any books, videotapes, or other materials that may not have been desensitized.
• If you see any such materials, ask if the person had been planning to check them out.
• If the materials belong to another branch library and are not checked out, they should be confiscated and sent back.
• If the person surrenders the materials, keep them behind the desk.
• If you cannot determine what is activating the alarm, ask the person to open his or her book bag or briefcase.
• If the person leaves without stopping or leaves with the materials, do not follow the person.
• Be sure to notice what the person looks like and give an accurate description.

Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 8-1000.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

If theft of library materials is observed:

• Try to get another witness to the behavior, if at all possible.
• Do not talk to, detain or follow the person.
• Give an accurate description of the materials in question if at all possible.

Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 911.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

Criminal Behavior:
Theft of Personal Items

Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 911.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

• Have the victim or witness(es) talk directly to Public Safety or Library Security.
• Encourage the victim to file a report with Public Safety.
• If there is no description of the perpetrator, call Public Safety anyway to file a report.

For a variety of reasons, a patron may not want to leave the Library at closing time. If the person refuses to leave:

• Get backup from a colleague.
• Explain the Library's hours to the patron.
• If the person still refuses to leave, explain that you will have to call Public Safety or Library Security.

If the problem persists:
Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 911.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

Criminal Behavior:
Vandalism

If you witness or come upon vandalism or defacement of University property:
Branch Libraries: notify Public Safety immediately at 911 if you see the vandalism being committed, otherwise use 8-1000.
Firestone Library: notify Library Security immediately at 8-3221.

• Try to find another witness to the actions.
• Give an accurate description.
• Do not talk to, detain, or follow the person.
• Do not clean up the area; wait for Public Safety or Library Security to investigate the site