McQuade Library Student Worker Training Guide

The panic button is located right beneath the desk where the front computer sits. There is a bright orange note on it. 

When you press this button, the Merrimack Police Department is alerted. They will either call right back or come over.

Please Use this for Emergency Situations Only!

• When the College closes, McQuade remains open (unless we inform you otherwise).
• Please pay special attention to your email on snow days. It's really important that we are able to get in touch with you in these emergency-type situations.
• Resident students will be asked to help cover shifts for commuter students. Commuter students are not required to work their shift if there is a snow day. Safety comes first!  

A. Order of Notifications and Communication Protocol

If there is not a college announcement via email or RAVE alert, 

1. Wait 20 minutes and then call Police Services at 978-686-6709* or 978-686-6594* to determine cause and extent of power failure and predicted restoration time
2. Tell Police Services of any persons trapped in elevators or who might be stuck on a floor.
3. Wait 30-45 minutes to see if power resumes.  If it doesn’t, call or text Head Librarian, Lyena Chavez, 617-835-0544, or alternate for advice and decision re closing library.
4. Notify Police Services of library building status (either temporarily evacuating, or closing, or still awaiting decision to close), and also of persons trapped in elevators.

*These numbers change 

B. Daylight or Partial Blackout: If there is enough light perform these steps

1. Library staff & 1 member of every unit in building should check-in at the 1st floor Help Desk with emergency flashlights/cell phone lights to receive further instructions. 
2. All library staff are expected to check in on users on all floors, check elevators for any persons trapped, and patrol all levels (especially lower level) to find problems.  Open blinds to O’Brien Classroom to increase light on 2nd floor.
3. Do not force users to leave library areas which receive adequate window lighting (patio, atrium, O’Brien classroom, etc.) unless the Head Librarian determines that the entire building must be closed due to safety or security concerns. Assume that the building will remain open until a decision is made.  Use judgment as to whether to permit users to stay inside, (patio, the atrium, O’Brien Center classroom) especially in inclement weather.
4. Tell users: "At this time McQuade building will remain open and library users are welcome to stay. However, we advise that you avoid using the elevator until power is restored. If you wish to leave, please use the main exit on the first floor." Post notices over elevator buttons on each level: "Please do not use elevators during power outage." Be sure to remove these notices when power is restored.
5. Contact directly – by calling or texting Accessibility Services Office to let them know about the outage and to tell them that the elevator is not currently available/working 

C. Closing

Procedures for staff to prepare to leave the building
Very seldom will a power outage turn into a complete closing. In the past, power is restored within an hour or so, enabling resumption of services.  If the blackout occurs after dark, wait 30-45 minutes to see if power resumes. If power doesn’t resume in that time period, evacuate users for the duration of the blackout.

If the Head Librarian or alternate decides to close the building for the day/night:

1. Staff should return to work areas, secure them for closing, and then return to the Help Desk to  provide assistance.
2. Head Librarian or Evening Staff will send email to “McQuade Building Staff” giving building update.  They will cc askit@merrimack.edu so that swipe door access can be turned off.
3. Library staff will let call to let Police Services know.
4. Library staff will post signs on front doors.
5. If possible, a banner should be added to the library website stating that the Library is closing due to a power outage.

Exit Procedures

1. Before leaving staff should:
   a) Library staff should let users know situation, e.g.: "The library/campus has a power failure and we must evacuate the building. Carefully make your way to the main exit on the first floor." Instruct users to leave the building carefully by the main exit, leading the way if necessary.
   b) Check elevators to see if they are working; if not, check for anybody trapped as follows: check at each floor by tapping on doors and asking if anyone is in the elevator; calm anyone who is trapped and assure them you will report this to Police Services; Immediately call campus police to inform them of the problem and get information from them regarding what their plans are for dealing with it; call them again periodically to check on progress if none is seen on site.
   c) Patrol building to find and note the location of any users who need assistance in evacuating and inform Police Services who will coordinate evacuation of these users.
   d) Be alert to obstructions in aisles and if possible move them aside (e.g., kickstools, booktrucks or chairs).
   e) If emergency power is out, walk each floor and stairwells with a flashlight to assist users out.

McQuade Library Building areas that are powered via generator:

• 2nd floor Graduate Center
• 2nd floor IT Offices & Servers
• 2nd floor O’Brien Center Suite & Room 206 (O’Brien Classroom)
• 2nd floor Tables