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UTEP Library Emergency Procedures

possible library emergency situations

Evacuation Plan

In case of a fire (including a general fire alarm), bomb threat, power failure, or other emergency which calls for evacuation of the Library, the following procedures will be followed:

During regular business hours, 8 - 5 Monday - Friday:
(Library Administration Office Hours)

First Library staff person aware of emergency will:

  1. Immediately contact Campus Police (5611) and tell them about the situation.
  2. Contact Access Services Desk (5672) so that staff there can implement the evacuation plan.
  3. Contact Library Administration (5683).
  4. Implement the part of the evacuation plan for which the staff member's department is responsible for.
  5. In the event that the campus must be evacuated immediately, the order may be given to evacuate on foot. If an evacuation on foot is directed, take your keys, cellular phone and any other items needed to leave the campus. Use the most direct route to a location off campus where you could remain for at least 4 hours. Additional instructions will be provided through the Miner Alert System. Remain off campus until the All Clear is received.

Departmental responsibilities are:

Access Services/R & I personnel will:

  1. Make general announcement on the P.A. to evacuate the building.
  2. If electrical failure occurs so that there is no P.A., make announcement in loud voice or using megaphone.
  • Contact Special Collections, Library Discovery Services, ILL (Interlibrary Loan), TSC (Technology Support Center), and all academic support services inside the library, e.g. MARCS, Writing Center, Miner Learning Center, Testing, and Advising.
  1. Send staff person to front entrances to prevent entry of anyone except emergency personnel.
  2. Evacuate ILL and Access Services staff.
  3. Evacuate public areas of 2nd floor, including restrooms and custodial closets.
  4. Check assigned corner exit stairwells.

Library Discovery Services personnel will:

  1. Evacuate all staff in Acquisitions, Bindery, Cataloging, M&M, Texas Western Press and all other offices.
  2. Bindery will place "Evacuation in Progress" sign on dock area door. 
  3. Check Lounge and Blumberg Auditorium.
  4. Evacuate public areas of 1st floor including restrooms and study rooms.
  5. Check corner exit stairwells.

Library Administration personnel will:

  1. Evacuate 3rd and 4th floors, restrooms, room 324 A &B, stairwells.

Technology Support Center personnel will:

  1. Evacuate all staff and students from their area.
  2. Check corner exit stairwells.

MaRCS, Writing Center, Miner Learning Center, Testing, Advising and all academic support services personnel will:

  1. Evacuate all staff and students from their area.

Special Collections staff will:

  1. Evacuate staff and patrons from 6th floor.
  2. Evacuate patrons and staff from 5th floor.

Important: Do not use elevators in case of fire. As each area is evacuated, staff should leave doors closed but not locked.

Note: Evacuation of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th floors should include sending an employee to check for patrons who may need assistance exiting the building, since elevators may not be functioning. Each department with responsibilities for evacuating one of these floors must have employees trained in operating EVAC+CHAIRS which are located across from elevators.

See EVAC Chair Instructions

View an online demonstration : chair EVACU-TRAC CD-7

View an online demonstration : chair EVAC+CHAIR 300H

 

Emergency Coordinator: The senior staff member on duty in Access Services is designated Emergency Information Coordinator. He or she will maintain a written summary of the situation consisting of the following information:

  1. Name of person, department, and time of first report of the emergency. Download check list
  2. Location of fire or suspected bomb.
  3. Time each floor is completely evacuated, and who verified the evacuation.
  4. Any blocked or unusable exits, the time they were reported and by whom.
  5. Locations of stranded staff or patrons who may need special evacuation help.
  6. Any injuries or fatalities, including names, times, types of injury, and actions taken to aid injured persons.

Outside of regular business hours
(i.e. evenings, weekends, or early mornings -- when the Library Administration Office is Closed)

First Library staff member to be aware of the emergency will:

  1. Immediately contact Campus Police (5611) and tell them about the situation.
  2. Contact Access Services Desk (5672) so that staff there can implement the evacuation plan.
  3. Implement the part of the evacuation plan that the staff member's department is responsible.

Access Services personnel will:

  1. Make general announcement on the P.A. to evacuate the building.
  2. Make announcement in loud voice or using megaphone, if electrical failure occurs.
  3. Send staff person to front entrances to prevent entry of anyone except emergency personnel.
  4. Contact Serials, M&M, Bindery, TSC, MaRCS, Writing Center, Testing, Advising and all academic support services (if open). Notify Special Collections and any other department which might have personnel working after (or before) regular working hours.
  5. Evacuate 5th, 4th, and 3rd floors, including restrooms and carrels.
  6. Evacuate public areas of 2nd floor, including restrooms.
  7. Evacuate ILL and Access Services staff.
  8. Contact one of the following people from Library Administration, top name first:

                     Robert Stakes           915-329-7998

Bonnie Cardona       915-731-7237

Harvey Castellano    915-352-4646

Important: Do not use elevators in case of fire. As each area is evacuated, staff should leave doors closed but not locked.

Note: Evacuation of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th floors should include sending an employee to check for patrons who may need assistance exiting the building (check corner exit stairwells), since elevators may not be functioning. Each department with responsibilities for evacuating one of these floors must have employees trained in operating EVAC+CHAIRS which are located across from elevators.

Emergency Coordinator: The senior staff member on duty in Access Services is designated Emergency Information Coordinator. He or she will compile a written summary of the situation consisting of the following information:

  1. Name of person, department, and time of first report of the emergency.
  2. Location of fire or suspected bomb.
  3. Time each floor is completely evacuated, and who verified the evacuation.
  4. Any blocked or unusable exits, the time they were reported and by whom.
  5. Locations of stranded staff or patrons who may need special evacuation help.
  6. Any injuries of fatalities, including names, times, types of injury, and actions taken to aid injured persons.

   

Below are the escape routes (marked by red arrows) of each floor. 

Library Floor Plans 

                   

NOTE:  AS THE LIBRARY STAFF EVACUATES THE BUILDING THEY SHOULD MEET IN FRONT OF THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND THE SCHOOL OF NURSING (across the street) AND TAKE ROLL OF WHO IS PRESENT AND WHO IS MISSING OF THE STAFF WHO REPORTED TO WORK THAT DAY. 

 

(Revised12/19/2023)

500 W. University Avenue : El Paso, TX, 79968-0582 : (915) 747-5672
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