CPTED for Libraries: Designing Safe Community Spaces
On August 20, 2026, the US CPTED Association hosted a webinar titled “CPTED for Libraries: Designing Safe Community Spaces,” presented by Tad Twidwell. The presentation explored the unique safety challenges facing today’s public libraries and how Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) can help create environments that remain welcoming, accessible, and safe for staff, visitors, and the communities they serve.
Libraries are unique public spaces. They are designed to encourage access, learning, connection, and community use, often serving a wide range of people throughout the day. At the same time, library staff may encounter concerns involving disruptive behavior, vulnerable populations, staff safety, theft, facility security, and other quality of life issues. Traditional security measures alone are not always appropriate for an environment built around openness and public access.
Throughout the webinar, Tad discussed how CPTED offers libraries a more balanced approach. By considering how people naturally move through and use a space, libraries can make thoughtful changes that improve visibility, establish clearer boundaries, guide movement, and create a stronger sense of ownership without making the environment feel overly restrictive or unwelcoming.
The presentation also explored how different areas of a library may require different levels of access and environmental design. Entrances, reading areas, computer stations, meeting rooms, children’s spaces, restrooms, staff areas, and exterior spaces each present their own considerations. Applying CPTED principles such as natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance can help library professionals identify potential concerns and develop practical solutions based on how each space is actually used.
One of the important takeaways from the webinar was that library safety does not have to come at the expense of accessibility or community connection. When CPTED is thoughtfully incorporated into library design and operations, the environment itself can help support appropriate behavior, improve staff awareness, reduce opportunities for unwanted activity, and create spaces where people feel more comfortable and connected.
The webinar provided another great example of how CPTED can be adapted to the unique needs of different environments. For libraries, the goal is not simply to create more secure facilities, but to design and manage spaces that support their role as safe, welcoming, and valuable community resources.
We would like to thank Tad for once again sharing his experience and providing attendees with practical insight into applying CPTED within library environments.
If you are a member and would like to watch the full webinar recording, please visit our Member Webinars page. If you are not yet a member but would like to join and access exclusive content like this, visit our Membership page for more information.
