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Unattended Children
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The safety of all children left alone in the Library is a serious concern. Young children left on their own often become frightened or anxious. No public place, including the Library, can guarantee the safety of children. It is unfortunate that we need to take serious precautions, but we must safeguard the children who are patrons.
Unattended Children
The Library welcomes youth to use its facilities and
services. Responsibility for the behavior and well-being of children using the
library rests with the parent (or guardian or caregiver assigned by the parent)
and not with the Library's personnel.
Library staff members cannot supervise children in the
Library. The safety of all children left alone in the Library is a serious
concern. Young children left on their own often become frightened or anxious.
No public place, including the Library, can guarantee the safety of children.
Therefore, it is required that children under eight years of age be accompanied
by a parent or other caregiver when visiting the Library. Due to differences in
child development, some children between eight and ten years old may not be
able to cope with being unattended. Therefore, it is recommended that
children between 8 and 10 years of age be accompanied by a parent or other
caregiver when visiting the library. The Library in no way assumes any
responsibility for any child left unattended in the Library.
Unattended Children under Eight Years Old:
Children under the age of eight years may not be left unattended by an adult or
caregiver in any part of the Library. If children under the age of eight are
found without an adult or caregiver, staff will attempt to locate the parent or
other caregiver. If the parent or caregiver cannot be located in the building
or at home within 30 minutes, the police department (254-2228) will be
contacted to pick up the child.
Unattended Children under Eight Years Old - Programs:
During story times or other programs, adults who do not attend the program with
the child must remain in the building and must return to the story area by the
end of the program.
Unattended Children under Eight Years Old - Closing Time:
If children under the age of eight are found without an adult at closing time,
staff will attempt to locate the parent or caregiver. If the parent or
caregiver cannot be located in the building or at home within 30 minutes, the
police department (non-emergency number – (254-2228) will be contacted to pick
up the child. Two Library staff members (if possible) will stay with the child
after closing until the parent or the police arrive. The police should be
notified that they no longer need to come if the parent arrives before the
police arrive.
Youth [Eight and Older] in a Public Place:
Unattended children eight and over are free to use the Library's resources as
long as needed, provided that their behavior is not disruptive to other patrons
or staff members. During regular service hours, if Library staff judge that any
youth is not coping adequately or is behaving in a disruptive manner, staff
will attempt to locate a parent or care giver to pick up the child. If the
parent or caregiver cannot be contacted within 30 minutes, the police
department (non-emergency number - (254-2228) will be contacted for assistance.
Youth [Eight and Older] at Closing:
When visiting the Library without an adult, children eight and older should
have definite arrangements to be picked up by closing time. If children are
left unattended at closing, staff will first call the parents or caregiver and
then the police for pickup after closing when the parents/caregivers cannot be
located.
Contacting Law Enforcement: Youth [Eight and Older] at
Closing:
The Library staff will contact the police department (non-emergency number - (254-2228)
if staff are unable to reach parents or
other caregivers by telephone.
The Library staff will contact the police department
(non-emergency number - (254-2228) if staff are able to reach parents or other
caregivers, but the parent or other caregiver are unable to pick up the child
within 30 minutes after the Library closes.
The Library staff will contact the police department
(non-emergency number - (254-2228) if the parent or other caregiver first states
that he or she can pick up the child within 30 minutes after closing but does
not arrive at the Library by that time.
Waiting for Pickup by Parents or Police:
Two Library staff members, if possible, will stay with the child after closing
until the parent or the police arrive. The police should be notified that they
no longer need to come if the parent arrives before the police arrive. Under no
circumstances is a staff member ever to drive any patron home, adult or child.
In any situation involving youth safety and specifically whenever parents (or other caregivers) or police are contacted, staff will complete a narrative of the incident in the incident log.
