Step 1: Patron makes complaint to staff or non-PIC staff see suspected illegal material

• Contact PIC – PIC (with assistance from security personnel if available) will try to confirm that the material being viewed or downloaded is potentially illegal. In the absence of an LSL or contract security, PIC should take another staff member to the general area with them for back-up in case the materials are potentially illegal, but the other staff member is not required to view the materials.
• Definition of child sexual abuse material: USC Title 18 defines child sexual abuse material as:

Any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where –

(A) the production of such visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;

(B) such visual depiction is, or appears to be, of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct;

(C) such visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or

(D) such visual depiction is advertised, promoted, presented, described, or distributed in such a manner that conveys the impression that the material is or contains a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Step 2A: PIC or Security Personnel verifies complaint

• If you think the material is potentially illegal, check (or have another staff member check) Pharos to note what card is being used, and disable the PC via Pharos. You may need to extend the time on that patron so that PC doesn’t automatically log off.
• Call 911 and ask for a police response, letting the operator know that we suspect a patron may be viewing illegal material.
• If there is a patron witness, ask him/her to stay and speak with the police. We cannot require them to stay.
• Do not leave witnesses unattended in staff areas.

Step 2B: PIC or Security Personnel cannot verify complaint of suspected illegal material

• PIC or security personnel approaches patron and follows current procedures for viewing materials/websites that create a hostile environment for other patrons or staff.
• Return to patron making report and explain that you could not verify the potentially illegal material. Ask them to contact 911 to report this potential crime.
• If the patron is willing to report the potential crime, proceed to step 3.
• If the patron is unwilling to contact the police, write an incident report.

Step 3: Ask viewing patron to step away from the computer

• PIC or security personnel contacts the patron viewing/downloading the material. Have them step away from the computer (or chromebook), if possible without closing the web browser or logging off.
• Say that you “believe they may be viewing illegal material”.
• Attempt to preserve the Internet browser cache on the computer.
  • For desktop computers: Unplug the machine. Turn off (or cover) the monitor if unable to unplug the machine. Do not log the patron out, shut the computer down or turn it off before unplugging.
  • For chromebooks: Do not shut the chromebook down. Do not log the patron out and do not close the lid.  Plug in the chromebook so it does not lose power and lock it in a manager’s office.  The chromebook will shut down automatically after two hours, but this may give investigators an opportunity to view it before it does shut down.
• Ask the patron to remain until the police arrive. Do not leave the patron alone if possible. Do not attempt to detain the patron if they choose to leave.

Step 4: Contact IT help desk and IT security

• Contact IT help desk (ext 85100), and ask them for assistance. Have them:
  • Check the Pharos log-in for that computer if you were unable.
  • Retain Pharos log-in info for the session in case it is needed as evidence.
• Contact IT security
  • Email IT security (it.security.reports@multco.us) the name of the computer and the copy of the incident report

Step 5: Contact the library Director’s Office during business hours. After hours, contact one of the library director’s designees and brief them on the situation

• Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, contact a library administrative receptionist at x87870. The receptionist will contact the director/designee and have them get back with you.
• After hours, use the after hours phone numbers on library commons.
• You may also contact the Central Library PIC at 503.969.3839 to assist with this, especially if you are short-staffed.
• Always inform Jon Worona, director of digital strategies and Shawn Cunningham, communications director, when dealing with a suspected illegal material incident, even if another of the director’s designees is assisting you with the incident.

Step 6: Helping other patrons

• If it is near closing, minimal staff may be available to deal with other patrons. Desk coverage may be spotty so expect longer lines.
• Do not leave the patrons involved in the incident alone.
• Do not ask one person to watch both patrons.

Step 7: Meeting with the police

• If possible, have a staff member meet the police and escort the officer(s) to the PIC.
• The PIC provides a general briefing; let police handle it from there.
• You can expect a varied response from the police. If you are concerned about the response you are getting, ask the officers to call their sergeant or shift supervisor. Be sure to record the names of the officers.

Step 8: Issue the exclusion

• If the police determine that the patron likely did view/download child sexual abuse material, the patron will be excluded for three years.
• Use the words viewing (or downloading) suspected illegal material on the exclusion form as the reason for the exclusion.

Step 9: Disposition of computer or other library materials

• Desktop computer. Unplug the computer without logging off or shutting down the computer. Lock the computer and any other evidence the police have not collected in a manager’s office.
• Chromebook. Do not shut the Chromebook down. Do not log the patron out and do not close the lid. Lock the Chromebook in the manager’s office and plug it in so it does not lose power.
• If the police request the computer you must first receive permission from the library director or her designee, and fill out a release form before giving the computer CPU to them.
• The release form is in the PIC manual and the emergency procedures manual on the library commons.

Step 10: After the incident is over

• Enter an incident report and debrief with staff.