Bomb threats have closed a great number of libraries in Chicagoland, according to police.
The Harold Washington Library was one of many places that have experienced this, according to Total Traffic. On Van Buren, police have been patrolling and trying to get to the bottom of these threats.
In the suburbs of Aurora, the police have taken this incident into their own hands and started shutting down streets. Authorities said the perpetrator selected this library in the 100 block of South River Street after a bomb threat on last Tuesday afternoon. In this area, officers were on scene evaluating workers and closing streets to limit any potential threats.
The police department sent out officers to all of these three libraries (and in each of the communities) following these bomb threats, according to officials. It was said that another threat had been made against Addison Public Library. The police stated that they found no explosives on the scene, but they had safely evacuated the people in the building.
At their public library, the Evanston police responded to a bomb threat. They stated that they had not substantiated any threat. Lastly, officials closed all the Schaumburg Township District Libraries for the following day due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
In Case of a Bomb Threat
- Remain calm and if you are experiencing.
- Notify authorities as soon as possible.
- If you are on the job then let your supervisor/manager know. Or if you have been trained for this situation follow your facility’s standard procedure.
- For threats made via phone: Try to keep the calling on the line as much as you can. Be polite and show interest to keep them talking. DO NOT HANG UP!
- If possible, signal or pass a note to other staff to notify them what going on, and for them to notify authorities.
- Write down any distinguishing features. This would include the caller ID number, the exact wording of the threat made, the type of voice, their behavior, etc. whatever you believe that will help investigators.
- Record the call, if possible.
By Khalyse Hemingway
Sources:
NBC Chicago News: Bomb threats target Chicago-area public libraries
CISA.gov: What to Do – Bomb Threat
CBC News: All clear issued, libraries reopen after bomb threat, active shooter hoax in Aurora
Emergency.ucmerced.edu: Bomb Threat
Loyola.edu: Bomb Threat/Explosive Device Information
Inset image courtesy of Emma London Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Featured image courtesy of Thomas Hawk Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
