CERL Quick Audit Tool (QAT)

The Quick Audit Tool (QAT) (5th edition - 2024) aims to raise awareness of a speedy way for any library/archive to see how their collection security policies and procedures compare against a baseline set by CERL institutions, both big and small, represented in the Security Working Group. Furthermore it provides guidelines and useful tips.
:collaboration:security:qatbooklet_ed4_screen_version.pdf Two formats are available: to be printed as a booklet or to be consulted on screen. These Excel sheets help you to record your responses to the questions.

For an introduction to the tool, see this presentation by Mme Jacqueline Lambert, KB Brussels and Chairman of the Security Working Group.

The Security Network developed two supporting tools related to the Quick Audit Tool.

The first of these consists of QAT Discussion Cards. The Discussion Card were developed in parallel to the Quick Audit Tool and offer an ideal opportunity to engage various stakeholders in your institution with collection security issues. Each of the cards presents a realistic scenario that could happen in your library, and exploring this scenario with library staff in detail results in greater awareness of the issues at hand, a better understanding of the risks that present themselves and the collection security measures that were taken and need to be enforced.

The second supporting tool , called QAT Library, aims to offer inspiration to CERL members who are in the process of drafting or refining their own security policies. This tool is designed to bring together examples (forms, check-lists, procedures, etc.) and experiences related to the security of collections from our different institutions. A basic version, which can already give you an idea of the tool’s power, is currently available in the member area. The aim is to expand the QAT Library with contributions from CERL members.

CERL members may request access to both these tools, by writing to secretariat@cerl.org.