LCL Unattended Child Policy

PURPOSE:  

The Library hopes that the children who use the library will find the facility to be a warm and inviting place to develop a love of books, reading, and the library. Prompted by genuine concern for the safety and well-being of this community’s children, the Library has adopted a policy for unattended children. This policy affirms that library personnel do not take the place of the parent, act as caregiver, nor assume responsibility for unattended children. For your child’s safety and for the comfort of all library patrons, we ask that these guidelines be followed.

1. Children under the age of ten should be accompanied by their caregiver at all times. This will give the caregiver an opportunity to teach the child/children appropriate behavior for a library/public place and respect for other patrons and books. We welcome your help in making the Library a safe and enjoyable place for all ages.

The staff cannot be responsible for the safety of your child. Should it come to the attention of the library staff that a child under the age of ten has been left alone, we will attempt to locate the caregiver and explain our concerns. If the caregiver cannot be located within an hour or if the library is closing, the police will be contacted for assistance.

2. Children age ten or older may be left unattended providing their behavior follows the Patron Behavior Policy for the library. Should the child’s behavior become unacceptable, the child will be asked to leave. Concern for the child’s safety is paramount and an attempt will be made to locate the child’s caregiver so they are aware of the situation and may pick up their child if they wish. If a caregiver cannot be located, the police may be called for assistance.

3. Caregivers are responsible for teaching a child the proper behavior in a library. The library staff welcomes all those who abide by the library’s Patron Behavior Policy. If the behavior of a child under the age of ten becomes unacceptable, the caregiver will be asked to correct the problem. If the behavior continues, the caregiver and child will be asked to leave.

Those responsible for children should know:

STAFF WILL CALL THE POLICE AND NOTIFY THE SUPERVISING LIBRARIAN IMMEDIATELY if the safety or well-being of any child in the library is in jeopardy.

Any person exhibiting unacceptable behavior will be asked to leave the library.

Staff will notify the caregiver of a child involved in disruptive behavior. If the caregiver is not located, the police may be called. Chronic offenders may be denied use of the library.

PREPARED BY:                                             

/s/___Terri Wojtalewicz_______                                

Library Director  

Revised:  February 28, 2017                                                                   

END OF POLICY STATEMENT