The Library Safety Volunteers (LSV) is a group of library workers trained in community safety and deescalation techniques who can support colleagues and patrons facing backlash during LGBTQIA+ or other "controversial" library programs.

If you work at a Massachusetts library, you can request assistance, and LSV will work with trained volunteers to try to organize a support team. We will coordinate closely with the hosting library's staff; our goal is to provide supplemental assistance and back-up whenever we can. Safety teams are trained to: peacefully create space between attendees and protesters; monitor for signs of escalation in a crowd; help escort attendees into or out of program spaces; and/or calmly engage and distract protesters as needed.

Please contact us as soon as you can during your planning stages to ensure enough time to organize. If you have questions, reach out to heaththelibrarian@gmail.com; and please add this email address to your Contacts List so as not to miss any replies.