Law Enforcement Inquiry: What to do

This is intended as a guide for what to do in case library personnel are approached by law enforcement agents in the performance of any investigation. There has been growing concern among librarians from recent investigations stemming from antiterrorism legislation. This has caused libraries to address procedures dealing with any investigation in which law enforcement individuals may visit and possibly execute certain court orders. In the event of a situation, please follow the procedures that are below. Above all, please remain calm and cooperative.

Procedures

These procedures are intended to facilitate communication to both General Counsel and Library Administration on campus. Library staff and student workers should:

1. Immediately call the General Counsel Office at 1-6411 and explain the situation to them.
* They will inform you what to do next.

* In the event contact needs to be made after normal business hours (e.g. evenings or weekends), attorneys for the General Counsel Office may be contacted at their home. Attorneys are identified under the General Counsel in the ND telephone directory with the word “Counsel” in their title.

2. Contact your supervisor or department head. A space has been provided below to fill in contact information for your appropriate supervisor. In the event a situation occurs after normal business hours, a space has been provided below for supervisors to provide emergency contact information

3. Supervisors or department heads should contact the Director of Libraries or the Associate Director for their department.

Jennifer Younger: 1-7790
Gay Dannelly: 1-3282
Dan Marmion: 1-3811
Nigel Butterwick: 1-7313

4) Be calm and courteous but take no further action. Stand back and wait for a University official to arrive. If asked, inform the law enforcement personnel that your instructions are to take no action until a University official arrives on the scene. Do not interfere with the law enforcement personnel. Answer only the questions asked. Do not volunteer any additional information.

Contact Information

Supervisor name: ____________________________________________

Supervisor phone number: _____________________________________

Emergency name & phone: ____________________________________

Date of guideline adoption: February 14, 2003