ABSTRACT
Security planning and policy making is an essential but regrettably neglected area of the management of libraries and information centres and one which has implications for virtually all aspects of library operations. In contrast with the USA, security policy has not received the attention it deserves in the United Kingdom but that libraries all over the world are at risk from an increasing number of threats, international interest in this dilemma is growing. The modem library manager must take full responsibility for security and develop policies and a coherent strategy in relation to the crimes and misdemeanours which threaten the survival of the libraries. Librarians must resolve their own policy as to whether the main objective is the return of the books or punishing of the reader. Security policy is an essential element in the management of libraries and information centres and many potentially damaging situations can be avoided or alleviated by effective forward planning and good management policies.
