Creating a Culture of Security in the University of Maryland Libraries

Academic institutions must take a greater interest in the security needs of their libraries and invest management skills, time, and finances proactively in this sphere. Above all, the role of the library staff must be central to any envisioned program of library security. This article reports a recent intensive collaborative effort between the University of Maryland Libraries and the Association of Research Libraries to scrutinize and to revamp security practice and policy of the University libraries. We believe it was a fruitful association particularly because it made us focus on the active role of the library staff in fostering and maintaining a spirit of security.