When he behaves as though he wants to keep you talking, even following you if you try to disengage by backing or walking away. Just tell him you need to get back to work now. If he persists, repeat that you need to get to work now; and walk away. The reason for this proactive and friendly engagement is to reinforce the feeling that he can get our friendly attention without his having to act out.
If you need to intervene with him when he's having a noisy outburst, call him by name, and tell him that he's bothering other students with his loud talking. Tell him he needs to go for a walk until he feels calmer. He will likely try to engage you in conversation about whatever is bothering him. You can say something like, "Yeah, I can tell you're feeling frustrated right now. That's why you need to go for a walk." If he continues to just try and talk with you or to assure you that he will be quiet, just say, "I know you're trying, but you need to go for a walk until you feel calmer. Then you can come back." If need be, say, "Come on. Gather up your stuff. You need to go for a walk." He will almost always comply at this point. Record the interaction in the Libraries Security Database. (You must be logged in to Staffweb to access the database.)
If you are not able to get him to leave and his acting out gets bigger (he raises his voice or starts jumping up and down or he reaches out to touch you). Tell him, he needs to leave and not to come back here or go to any libraries for the rest of the day. Tell him if he goes to any library today, the library staff will call the police. Record the interaction in the Libraries Security Database. (You must be logged in to Staffweb to access the database.)
You can also tell him that here are the guidelines Elizabeth Higgins expects him to follow:
- When he get frustrated, go for a walk, get a drink of water, have a snack break, take deep breaths, listen to jazz or vocal music with headphones, or stretch.
- When he get frustrated or stressed out, write down the things that frustrate him or stress him out. When he is calm, he will be able to find the solutions.
- Leave the library to cool off for a while, taking a break.
- Email any customer services reps. or the library staff when it comes to any service issues such as slow WI FI internet connections.
- If the cell phone reception is poor inside the library, go outside for better reception.
- Find place with fast Wi Fi internet connections and list the places down.
- Use study groups- 1st floor Odegaard Library.
- Adam
