Creating Spaces Where Communities Thrive

Public Library Directors, please save the date for our 2026 retreat at the Douglas County Fairgrounds! We’ll be enjoying Barbwire Barbecue for lunch and have two amazing presenters lined up. This event is for public library directors or interim directors, and is in-person only—there will be no recordings. There will be no cost to attend. Please don’t miss the rare opportunity for public library leaders in Northeast Kansas to come together for learning, engagement, and fellowship. Questions? Contact Dan Alexander (dalexander@nekls.org).

Registration: https://forms.gle/e4DtzTe7vKAovChz9 (closes September 11th)

• 9:30 — Welcome
• 10:00 — Tad Twidwell Part 1 – Policies & Procedures
• 10:50 — Break
• 11:05 — Tad Twidwell Part 2 – Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
• 12:00 — Lunch
• 12:50 — FoKL
• 1:00 — Courtney Masterson: Native Lands Restoration Collaborative
• 1:50 — Break
• 2:00 — Facilitated Discussion
• 3:00 — Adjournment

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Security Policies & Procedures, Presented by Tad Twidwell
Together, we’ll explore foundational security policy frameworks for public libraries, including incident reporting, emergency response, access control, visitor management, and staff training considerations.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Presented by Tad Twidwell
We’ll examine the core principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and their application in library environments, including sightlines, natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement, lighting, and reducing opportunities for concealment.

Tad Twidwell is a physical security expert, NICP instructor, and the creator of the specialized CPTED for Libraries curriculum. He brings a unique perspective to public safety, combining a decade in law enforcement with over 12 years in library leadership, including extensive security work for the Johnson County Library system.

As a certified Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) practitioner and Committee Chair for the US CPTED Association, Tad specializes in helping library directors balance robust safety infrastructure with the open, welcoming mission of public libraries. He helps leaders nationwide protect their facilities and staff through strategic design, natural surveillance, and proactive threat assessment.

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Native Lands Restoration Collaborative
Courtney will share the story of the Midco Parklet Project, an initiative that’s transforming a small vacant outdoor spaces into vibrant, native landscapes that support pollinators, learning, and community gathering. Using the project as a case study, she’ll explore how libraries can incorporate native species, cultivate community partnerships, pursue grant opportunities, and create outdoor spaces that reflect and serve their communities.

Courtney Masterson is an ecologist and educator passionate about helping people connect with native landscapes to inspire stewardship of the ecosystems that sustain our water, soil, communities, and wildlife.

She holds a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Kansas and has taught ecology, biology, environmental science, and botany in colleges and community settings for more than a decade. Drawing on backgrounds in both science and photography, Courtney makes ecological concepts engaging and accessible for diverse audiences.