When a fire alarm sounds inside the library building, or in the event of a campus emergency situation:
Grab your cell phones and valuables and head to the nearest emergency exit. Do not use the elevators.
If you need assistance, flag down a library staff member or another library user.
Physically challenged persons: Head to the nearest emergency exit and ask for assistance. An emergency chair is located on the 5th floor, northeast exit. Ask others to inform emergency crews of your whereabouts.
Only attempt to put out a fire if it is small and you have been trained to use the fire extinguisher.
A Safety Officer will give the all clear to return to the library building. Only UT Police, the Fire Chief, or Environmental Health & Safety officers can give the all clear to return to the building.
When a fire alarm sounds inside the library building, or in the event of a campus emergency situation the following steps must be taken to evacuate the library by Evacuation Team (ET) members and all staff members:
Grab your cell phones to communicate with staff on the other floors and with the Evacuation Team (ET).
ET members evacuate staff and patrons on your floor through the nearest exit.
Check the stacks, seating area and restrooms for lagging library users; ask them to exit through the nearest available door. If a user refuses to leave the building, note the user’s location and continue to evacuate the building. Give information on where they were last seen to the emergency crews when they arrive.
Physically challenged persons: ET member find someone to accompany/assist the person out of the building. An emergency chair is located on the 5th floor, northeast exit. If it’s not feasible to fetch/use the chair, the escort must get them inside an emergency stairwell, ask others to inform emergency crews of their whereabouts and remain with them until further assistance arrives.
In the process of evacuating the building, staff should inspect their floors for smoke, fire, injuries or other emergencies and relay this information to the ET Coordinator. Only attempt to put out a fire if it is small and you have been trained to use the fire extinguisher.
Upon evacuation, library staff are to meet at the designated meeting place, which is the motorcycle area of Lot 2, close to Perimeter Drive. Each supervisor or designee should attempt to account for his/her staff.
Library staff at the designated meeting place will be notified via radio when the Safety Officer gives the all clear to return to the library building. Only UT Police, the Fire Chief, or Environmental Health & Safety officers can give the all clear to return to the building.
The Evacuation Team Coordinator and the Disaster Team Leader will remain near the library entrance (if safe) to keep people from entering the building, unless they are emergency personnel, and to act as liaison between emergency services and library administration
Upon return, please check your work areas for any damage to personal property, workspace and the building, and report them to the building fire marshal or library administration office.
Evening/Weekend staff will evacuate the floors–they may have to ask for assistance from library users.