Service to children is a major focus of the library’s mission. Parents/legal guardians are encouraged to use the library with their children and share in the information and resources that are available. Parents/legal guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children, including during the children’s participation in library sponsored programs. Teachers or group leaders are responsible for conduct of their students or groups while they are in the library for a class visit or tour. Library personnel may ask parents/caregivers/teachers/group leaders to leave the library with the children in their care if they are unable to correct disruptive behaviors.
Library-sponsored programs for children typically advertise an age range for participants. At the program organizer’s discretion, age range may be limited for safety reasons (e.g., when a program involves small objects that may pose a choking hazard to younger children) or to ensure that the program content is developmentally appropriate for all participants. Parents or caregivers should request permission from the Children’s Librarian for a child who is a year or more outside a program’s age range to participate in that program. The Children’s Librarian will provide a reasonable explanation if the request is denied.
If one or more children of a parent or caregiver is participating in a library-sponsored program, and their older or younger sibling(s) are not able to participate in the program, the parent or caregiver is responsible for supervising the non-participating child(ren) and ensuring that they do not disrupt the program.
Children are also welcome to use the library independently as long as they have sufficient maturity to behave responsibly in accordance with library policy. However, the library is a public place, and parents / legal guardians accept responsibility for permitting their unaccompanied child to visit the library as they would for any other public place. The library does not have a specific responsibility to care for children left unattended in its facilities, and cannot act as a baby-sitter or daycare alternative. If an unattended child behaves in a disruptive manner, the child may be warned, and if behavior continues, the child will be asked to leave the library and/or the police may be called. As is true for adults, repeated incidents of disruption or violation of library policies may result in suspension of a child’s library privileges.
The following rules apply to unattended children in the library.
- Children under the age of ten (10) must be accompanied by a responsible person aged sixteen (16) or older while in the facility or on the grounds of the library.
- Parents or the responsible caregiver may not leave children under the age of ten (10) unattended. Parents or the responsible caregiver must remain with their children while the child is attending library programs.
- Children ages ten (10) and older may use the library unattended for any length of time as long as their conduct is acceptable in a library setting and general patron rules are observed.
- Children of any age with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities which may affect decision making skills or render supervision necessary must be accompanied by a parent or responsible caregiver at all times.
- If child under the age of ten (10) is left unattended in the library, staff will attempt to locate his or her parents or guardians.
- If a parent or guardian of an unattended child under the age of ten (10) cannot be reached, staff will call police to escort the child home or to keep the child until the parents can be reached and transportation arranged.
- For the safety of the child, staff will not leave an unattended child under the age of thirteen (13) outside to wait on a ride after the library closes. In this case, no fewer than two staff members will stay with the child and help them to contact their parent / guardian.
- If parent / guardian fails to pick up a child under the age of thirteen (13) within 15 minutes of library closing, staff will call police to escort the child home or to keep the child until the parents can be reached and transportation arranged.
- No staff member may give any unattended child a ride.
- No staff member may be alone in a closed room with a minor at the library. Children’s and teen activities inside the library building must take place either a) in a room with a window; b) with a door left open; or c) with more than one adult (patron or staff) present.
- At no time will staff members accompany or assist children who need to use the restroom.
The library does not allow loitering. Library personnel reserve the right to ask any adult loitering or otherwise behaving in a suspicious manner in the children’s or area to leave the premises.