Gun Safety Locks in Public Libraries
Anne Arundel County Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
In 2023, there were 18 gun-related homicides and 23 gun-related suicides in the county. Considered by officials as a public health epidemic, gun violence impacts not only law enforcement but countless communities, families and individuals. A gun safety lock can prevent accidental shootings, reduce suicides, prevent unauthorized use and deter impulsive violence. Libraries, in their role as a trusted community resource, have a unique opportunity to offer gun safety locks in a non-judgmental or threatening environment.
Building on an already successful partnership with our county health department, the library is providing gun safety locks to residents with no questions asked, protecting families, individuals and ultimately saving lives.
Challenge/Opportunity
Gun injury is the leading cause of death for children 0-18 in the country, the state and in our county. But how do you prevent these unnecessary deaths when guns evoke strong emotions and are often difficult to talk about due to their association with deeply personal and societal issues? You offer people a simple way to protect themselves, their families and their community from a dependable resource. The Anne Arundel County Public Library, a trusted community service agency, is a natural ally for delivering critical resources to the community. We’ve been doing so for generations whether it is access to social services, computers and high-speed internet or COVID masks and test kits, the library is an ideal location to offer gun locks. Because the library already had a seat at the table among community partners working on this issue, they listened to community concerns and suggested being a distribution point for gun safety locks.
Key Elements of Innovation
Coming together with law enforcement, public health officials, victim advocates and elected officials, the library hosted a press conference announcing that county public libraries will provide free gun safety locks to any county resident 18 years of age or older. The only library in Maryland offering gun locks, the program received tremendous coverage from television, print and radio outlets.
In addition to media coverage of the initiative, the library’s Marketing & Communications Department developed promotional emails that were sent to library customers and community leaders, created eye-catching signage placed at all library locations, the community college, and the main offices at the Department of Social Services and advertised on social media. Library staff, recognizing that you need to meet people where they are, made gun safety locks available at outreach events to reach non-library users.
Achieved Outcomes
Since April 13, 2023, library staff have issued 5,865 gun safety locks to eligible residents including issuing 519 gun safety locks at 55 community outreach events such as back-to-school nights, farmer’s markets, National Night Out, senior centers, PRIDE festivals and other public events. Gun safety locks have been distributed to residents in nearly every zip code in the county.
Customers like having gun locks available at the library, with one individual saying, “This is really great. If these gun locks can save one life, it’s completely worth it.”
Staff also appreciate making a positive impact on the community. One staff member said, “We are helping people fill a need easily and without cost or judgment.” “We are providing a safer environment for children.”
The program was presented in a session at the 2023 National Research Conference for the Prevention of Firearm- Related Harms and was featured on a webinar for the Network of the National Libraries of Medicine.
Additional Materials:
- "Anne Arundel County starts new pilot program tackling gun violence," WBALTV11
