Library Security Operations Center Renovation
Jacksonville Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
The Jacksonville Public Library’s Security Operations Center underwent a full-scale renovation in the spring and summer of 2024. This has strengthened the Library’s culture of safety and security at all levels. The Library’s team of security professionals uses the Security Operations Center (SOC) to detect, protect, and prevent security threats. The SOC monitors access controls, ingress and egress points, perimeters of buildings, and movement of people in and around facilities security cameras using closed-circuit television (CCTV). This allows the security team to more effectively communicate with security officers, law enforcement, staff, and management when threats or issues are detected. The complete SOC renovation includes the installation of six flat screens mounted in a video array as well as six flat monitors mounted on the control desk. These allow for simultaneous monitoring of multiple cameras and locations.
Challenge/Opportunity
The Jacksonville Public Library Operates 20 Branches and a large Main Library with over a million visits a year and over 400 staff. The growing issue has been how to provide security assistance at branches that do not have security officers physically on site. Limited funding has precluded the Library security team from stationing a security officer at every branch. To overcome this problem the Library installed 400 cameras to observe all 21 library locations and monitor safety and security issues in a cost-effective way when security officers could not be in place. This solution gives every branch the benefit of security professionals who can monitor activity in real time.
Key Elements of Innovation
The SOC aids critical communication with officers and staff by providing an over watch via security cameras. The SOC can simultaneously bring up multiple cameras at multiple locations and communicate rule violations, threats, or other observations to officers on the ground, staff, or management. Additionally, the SOC monitors weather radar and warnings to alert staff of impending danger. The SOC officers than continue to observe the activity while staff address it or call the police and provides staff with details, times and photos if necessary in real-time on the same day. This effectively provides security in every location, constantly, cost-effectively, and creates a safe and secure environment for all.
Achieved Outcomes
In real-time, the SOC can now communicate with officers and staff regarding activities at any location and provide information on activities occurring in and around the library branch, even if there is no physical officer on site. Monitoring all locations adds another layer of security to each library. SOC officers monitoring cameras can amplify the effectiveness and efficiency of our security strategy by helping to provide 24/7 security coverage and other security services traditionally fulfilled by physical on-site guards. This enhanced security is all done without being intrusive or overt yet contributes to making the Jacksonville Public Libraries safe for everyone
