CyberSafe - Training for Librarians
Cybersecurity Awareness Training Built for Libraries
Protect Your Library. Protect Your Patrons. Build a CyberSafe Culture.
Libraries are trusted with sensitive information, valuable technology, and the privacy of the communities they serve. CyberSafe gives library staff the practical knowledge they need to recognize cybersecurity threats, protect patron information, and respond confidently when something doesn't look right.
No technical background required. No cybersecurity jargon overload. Just practical training designed for the realities of today's library.
Who It’s For
Library Directors
Administrators
Managers & Supervisors
Circulation Staff
Reference Staff
Children's & Youth Services Staff
IT & Technology Staff
Volunteers
Front-Line Employees
Remote/Hybrid Employees
Course Modules
Module 1: Cybersecurity in the Library
Module 2: Passwords and Authentication
Module 3: Phishing and Social Engineering
Module 4: Malware and Ransomware
Module 5: Protecting Patron Privacy
Module 6: Public Computers and Library Networks
Module 7: Email, Cloud, and Remote Work
Module 8: Physical Security
Module 9: AI Security in the Library
Module 10: Incident Reporting
Module 11: Cybersecurity at Home
Module 12: Final CyberSafe Capstone Challenge
Key Features & Methodology
Library-Specific Scenarios: Every module features real-world examples grounded in actual library operations, allowing staff to immediately apply what they learn to daily patron interactions.
Bite-Sized & Digestible: Designed for busy schedules, breaking complex digital safety topics into manageable, engaging lessons.
Built-In Accountability: Integrated Knowledge Checks reinforce learning and ensure genuine comprehension before moving forward.
Why Choose CyberSafe? Protecting your community starts with protecting your staff. Because this curriculum was crafted by someone who has lived inside the library world for over 20 years, it speaks the language of library workers while delivering professional-grade cybersecurity defense. Equip your team to handle digital threats with confidence and keep your patrons' trust intact.
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Module 1 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Cybersecurity in the Library.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Cybersecurity in the Library.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 1 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 1.
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Module 2 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Passwords and Authentication.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Passwords and Authentication.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 2 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 2.
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Module 3 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Phishing and Social Engineering.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Phishing and Social Engineering.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 3 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 3.
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Module 4 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Malware and Ransomware.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Malware and Ransomware.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 4 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 4.
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Module 5- Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Protecting Patron Privacy.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Protecting Patron Privacy.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 5 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 5.
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Module 6 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Public Computers and Library Networks.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Public Computers and Library Networks.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 6 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 6.
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Module 7 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Email, Cloud, and Remote Work.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Email, Cloud, and Remote Work.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 7 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 7.
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Module 8 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Physical Security as it pertains to Cybersecurity.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Physical Security as it pertains to Cybersecurity.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 8 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 8.
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Module 9 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about AI Security in the Library.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about AI Security in the Library.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 9 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 9.
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Module 10 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Incident Reporting.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Incident Reporting.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 10 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 10.
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Module 11 - Lesson
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Cybersecurity at Home.
We cover in simple, digestible, terms what you should know about Cybersecurity at Home.
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Apply what you have learned in Module 11 in “real” library scenarios!
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Ensure concrete understanding of the topics covered in Module 11.
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Cybersecurity Starts With Your People
Technology alone can't protect a library.
Your staff are often the first people to notice a suspicious email, unusual computer behavior, unexpected login, unauthorized visitor, or potential privacy issue.
CyberSafe helps turn that awareness into action.
Through 12 practical, library-focused training modules, employees learn how to recognize common threats and make safer decisions in their everyday work.
CyberSafe helps your team:
Protect Patron Privacy
Understand how to safely handle patron information and recognize inappropriate disclosure.Recognize Phishing & Social Engineering
Identify suspicious emails, phone calls, impersonation attempts, and other manipulation tactics.Secure Everyday Technology
Develop safer habits around passwords, MFA, public computers, Wi-Fi, cloud services, and remote work.Use AI More Safely
Understand the privacy and cybersecurity risks associated with generative AI and emerging technologies.Respond With Confidence
Know what to do—and what not to do—when a potential security incident occurs.
Built for Libraries. Not Generic Corporate Training.
Most cybersecurity awareness training is designed for a generic corporate environment.
CyberSafe is different.
The program is built around situations library employees actually encounter:
A patron asks for another person's borrowing history.
A "vendor" shows up asking for access to the network closet.
A staff member receives six unexpected MFA prompts.
A public computer suddenly displays a ransomware message.
Someone sends a spreadsheet containing patron information to a personal email account.
A voice message sounds exactly like the library director—but the request doesn't seem right.
These aren't abstract cybersecurity examples.
They're situations your staff can understand and recognize.
From Awareness to Action
CyberSafe isn't designed to turn library employees into cybersecurity professionals.
It's designed to answer a much more important question:
"What should I do when something doesn't look right?"
Throughout the program, staff learn simple behavioral frameworks they can remember when they're under pressure.
🛑 Stop
Don't let urgency force you into a bad decision.
🔎 Verify
Confirm unusual requests through a trusted method.
🔐 Protect
Protect passwords, devices, systems, and patron information.
🧾 Preserve
Don't unnecessarily delete or alter potential evidence.
📣 Report
Know when—and how—to get help.
Real Scenarios. Real Decisions. Real-World Skills.
CyberSafe uses scenario-based learning to put employees in situations where they have to make a decision.
Instead of simply asking:
"What is phishing?"
CyberSafe asks:
"Your library director sends an urgent email asking you to purchase gift cards. What do you do?"
Instead of simply defining MFA fatigue:
"You receive six MFA requests even though you aren't logging in. Do you approve the next one?"
Instead of simply discussing patron privacy:
"A patron says they're the spouse of another patron and asks to see their borrowing history. What should you do?"
This approach helps employees connect cybersecurity concepts to the decisions they make every day.
Designed for Everyone
CyberSafe is designed for library employees regardless of their technical background.
Ideal for:
Library Directors
Administrators
Managers & Supervisors
Circulation Staff
Reference Staff
Children's & Youth Services Staff
IT & Technology Staff
Volunteers
Front-Line Employees
Remote/Hybrid Employees
Whether someone has worked in a library for 20 years or is new to the profession, CyberSafe focuses on practical behaviors that everyone can apply.
Why Libraries Need CyberSafe
Libraries are increasingly dependent on technology.
Your organization may rely on:
Integrated library systems
Patron accounts
Public computers
Wi-Fi
Email
Cloud applications
Digital collections
Self-checkout systems
Payment systems
Vendor platforms
Staff workstations
Remote access
When those systems are disrupted, the impact can extend far beyond technology.
It can affect:
Patrons. → Staff. → Operations. → Privacy. → Community trust.
CyberSafe helps employees understand their role in protecting all of them.