Conference on Academic Library Management 2026

On the afternoon of Saturday, August 16th, 2025, an emergency alert text was sent to the University of Denver campus community, informing them of a stabbing that had occurred in the Anderson Academic Commons, the building that houses library employees, service points, and collections. The conflict, which took place in an open seating area, involved two individuals unaffiliated with the University. While the physical injuries sustained by the victim were minor, the psychological impact on the library staff and the community was significant.

Violent incidents in academic libraries—regardless of the scope or medical severity—are traumatic events that fundamentally alter the workplace environment. How administration handles the minutes, days, and weeks following such an event is critical to staff recovery and retention. Moving beyond standard active harmer training, this session focuses on the administrative burden of care after the threat has been neutralized. Topics covered will include: supporting staff immediately following the violence; communicating successfully with campus security and law enforcement; and best practices for communicating with the broader campus community to provide transparency without increasing panic.