LIBRARY CHILD SAFETY POLICY

Purpose Statement

Leonard A. Good Community Library welcomes all ages and wants to provide an environment/place for all to enjoy. The safety and welfare of children at the library is of utmost importance. Young children should be supervised by age appropriate, responsible parties. Parents and caregivers are responsible for monitoring the activities and regulating the behavior of their children while the children are in the library.

The Library Board and staff respect the rights and privacy of all library patrons. Library staff will intervene only when juveniles are left unattended or problems of safety, disruptive behavior, or well-being occur.

Library staff will follow established library procedure for the protection of the juvenile or to maintain an environment free from disruption in accordance with the Library Conduct Policy.

Unattended Children in the Library

●       An unattended child is a minor of any age whose behavior requires them to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

●       The library does not have staff, staff training or State Certification to act as a child care facility.

●       The library staff is not responsible for the care of unattended children and does not assume responsibility from the parents or caregivers for providing for the welfare of their           children.

●       Library staff are not responsible for children interacting with or leaving the library with persons who are not appropriate caregivers.

●       Library staff are not responsible for any consequences of parents or caregivers forfeiting their responsibilities.

●       Library staff may refer to the police those children who are left unattended in the library when a parent/guardian cannot be reached or if the behavior of the minor child falls             outside that of acceptable behavior in the library.

●       Please refer to the Library Conduct Policy for more information and procedures for addressing issues with unattended children.

Parent/Caregiver Responsibilities

●       Remain with their young children and be responsible for the care of their children inside and on the premises of the library.

●       Parents with children who are mature enough to be left alone at the library are expected to set reasonable time limits for their children’s visits to the library and provide a                 means of transportation home from the library by the time the library closes.

●       Encourage positive behavior by their juveniles while in the library.

●       Cooperate with the library staff if their juveniles are disruptive or if they interfere or endanger others or cause damage to property.

●       Refer to the Library Conduct Policy for guidelines of conduct while using the library.

Staff Guidelines

●       Staff will use these guidelines for addressing lost/unattended children or those with conduct issues on a case-by-case basis.

●       Staff will attempt to locate the child’s parent, guardian or caregiver in the library.

●       If the parent or responsible guardian cannot be found in the building, the proper authorities will be notified.

●       An incident report will be filled out, given to the Library Director, and kept on record.

●       For the safety of a child left unattended in the library at closing, appropriate law enforcement authorities will be contacted to take custody of the child.