Ways to Prevent Vandalism

Surveillance should be part of any library's vandalism prevention approach. Goldstein recommends two types of surveillance. The first is traditional formal surveillance by police, security guards, citizen groups or paid or voluntary security personnel. The second type of surveillance is that which naturally occurs by employees such as librarians and custodians while completing their daily activities. Any surveillance should be at irregular intervals so that potential vandals cannot predict when a certain area will be unobserved (Lincoln).

Goldstein describes rule setting as making express statements of both acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, as well as the consequences for misbehaviour, available and well posted. To keep rule setting from being an empty threat, libraries should follow through with punishment, another strategy suggested by Goldstein, by enforcing their rules on the (unusual) occasions that vandals are caught. Punishments may include fines, restitution, or suspension of library privileges. Another Goldstein strategy, counselling, may be appropriate for vandals, such as young students caught vandalizing a school or public library. As well as publicizing the library's rules, publicity may be used to inform potential vandals and the general public of the problem and costs of vandalism through such means as anti- vandalism advertising, new releases, decals, slogan contests, anti-vandalism buttons, t-shirts, rulers, bookmarks, posters, and flyers (Goldstein). Lincoln recommends that libraries share the costs of anti-vandalism advertising and other publicity such as public service announcements by partnering with schools or transit authorities.

and many other ways...