Library staff in Prince Edward Island are lauding an extra layer of workplace security with the recent installation of panic buttons for emergencies at some locations.

The buttons, which look like a car key fob, can be worn by staffers on a lanyard. When pressed, they alert a third-party service which contacts 911 and police are sent to the location.

Most libraries in the province are in rural location,s where staff often work alone. Grace Dawson, director of libraries and archives for the province, called the buttons “a really nice additional measure” to ensure safety.

“We’re very lucky in P.E.I.… I think it’s a safe province. We don’t have as much crime as other provinces within Canada,” she said.

“I think staff do appreciate having an additional layer of security and protection in place so that they do have some sort of resource they can utilize if they’re in a situation that they require some additional help.

Remote panic buttons are currently available at eight of the Island’s 25 libraries — Stratford, Souris, Hunter River, O’Leary, Cornwall, Borden-Carleton, Alberton and Breadalbane — and Dawson said there are plans to install them in more.

She said having a panic button available is “standard practice” for libraries across Canada and that there was no defining incident that led to the buttons being installed.

“We’re a public-facing institution, we do interact with the public, so there are issues that come forth, but there haven’t been any really what I would call extreme emergency situations,” she said.

“A lot of our rural locations that we’ve reached out to so far have been on board to get them implemented.”

Susanna Hamilton has been working at the Stratford Public Library full time since June, and at times finds herself working alone for up to four hours. While there has not been an incident that caused her to press the panic button, she said having it provides reassurance.

“I like having it because, while nothing has ever happened, you never know — whether it’s falling or whether it’s a patron that might be agitated,” she said.

“It’s just that nice, extra level of security to know that if something goes wrong and maybe I’m not close to my phone or any of the phones, there’s something that I can push.”

While Hamilton has occasional concerns about pressing the button accidentally, she said having it at her disposal is a positive.

“It’s a really good thing to have because … we live in P.E.I. and it’s great, but you never know, something could happen,” she said.

“I think that if staff members are working alone, it’s a really nice thing to have.”

There is currently no timeline for having the buttons in place in all P.E.I. libraries, but Dawson said they hope to have it done “as soon as we can.”

The buttons have been installed for almost a year, and Dawson said the library service will be working with municipalities to see if more can be put in place.

“It’s just something nice to have when you’re by yourself working. It’s an extra sense of being comfortable having that additional piece of safety,” she said.

Source: CBC PEI