The webinar will be from 12:00pm – 1:00pm eastern standard time.

CPTED for Libraries: Designing Safe Community Spaces

Tad Twidwell brings a rare and practical blend of public safety experience and library leadership developed over a 22-year career: ten years in law enforcement followed by twelve years in public libraries. His early career in public safety provided a disciplined foundation in risk assessment, incident response, investigative documentation, and interagency coordination. Those roles required calm decision-making under pressure, adherence to chain-of-command protocols, and frequent collaboration with emergency management, medical responders, and investigative teams. The procedural rigor and situational awareness he developed during that decade inform his approach to safety and operations in public-facing institutions.

Transitioning into libraries, Tad applied that security-minded perspective to community-centered service environments. Over fifteen years he worked in front-line roles, served as a branch manager, and led projects focused on emergency preparedness and physical security. His library experience gave him a clear understanding of daily operational realities: the ebb and flow of public programming, diverse patron needs across age groups and backgrounds, constrained staffing, and the challenge of preserving welcoming, accessible spaces while managing safety risks. As a branch manager, he balanced program growth, community engagement, budget limitations, and facilities maintenance while protecting the library’s mission of intellectual freedom and equitable access.

Now working in the field of physical security for libraries, he manages all three tiers of integrated software security platforms (IP cameras, access control and intrusion) has conducted security and site assessments that examined entry points, sightlines, lighting, and high-risk zones such as restrooms, computer areas, and meeting rooms. He developed incident reporting procedures tailored to library workflows, ensuring clear documentation for follow-up and, when necessary, coordination with law enforcement. Working with facilities and vendors during renovations and capital projects exposed him to technical considerations, always with an emphasis on maintaining the welcoming character, and convenience of library spaces.

In project management roles, Tad collaborated with multiple departments and agencies totranslate organizational needs into practical plans, coordinated stakeholders, and ensure procedures were executable by staff with varying experience levels. His post-incident reviews applied investigative skills to identify root causes, recommend operational adjustments, and enhance system-wide readiness.

Academically, Tad holds a Master of Library & Information Science and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, blending behavioral insight with evidence-based library practice. He also earned certifications and training in physical security, OSHA workplace safety, cybersecurity, and continuity of operations. This mix of credentials and hands-on experience supports an equal opportunity approach to safety that seeks effective solutions without compromising the library’s mission and organizational goals.

His combined background in public safety and library operations enables him to assess risks with a practitioner’s eye and a librarian’s commitment to access, producing balanced, implementable solutions that protect people while preserving the inclusive nature of public libraries.

You can join the US CPTED Association by going here and checking out normally.