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Unattended Children
The Midland Park Memorial Library strives to
serve children of all ages and to create an appealing
environment that fosters a love of reading and an awareness of
the cultural significance of libraries.
The Library cannot accomplish these goals
without addressing the safety and well-being of children or
dependent individuals (individuals of any age unable to make
decisions about their own safety and well-being) left
unattended in the building, the parking lot or the surrounding
area. Children left unattended may become frightened, anxious,
bored and/or disruptive and, in any event, since the library
is a public facility, susceptible to danger.
The library staff members cannot provide care
or supervision to unattended children. Even if the library
were legally allowed to do so, staff members do not know the
specific needs of the individual children in the library nor
are they available to monitor their behavior or know when
their well-being is threatened. Staff members cannot know if
children are leaving the building without proper supervision,
with their parents or with strangers. Obviously, they cannot
even observe children outside the building. It is with this
background and upon these assumptions that the following
policy and procedures were developed.
Policy
Children Under the Age of 9 or Dependent
Individuals
Children under the age of 9 or dependent
individuals of any age must be accompanied by a responsible
caregiver at all times.
Children Between the Ages of 9 and 12
Children between the ages of 9 and 12 may be
left alone for a reasonable time but their parents or
guardians are responsible for their behavior and well-being.
Staff members will attempt to notify parents or guardians if,
in their judgment, the child’s behavior or well-being warrants
such notification and when, in the judgment of the library
staff, the matter is urgent, the police may be notified.
Parents or guardians are strongly advised to leave their
contact information with a library staff member. Since they
are responsible for their children, they must be accessible.
Parents who leave
children in this age group unattended must pick them up at
least 20 minutes before closing time.
Children Between the Ages of 13 and 17
Children between the ages of 13 and 17 may be
in the library without adult supervision. However, their
parents or guardians are responsible for their behavior, their
safety and their well-being. If the child is disruptive or if
the child’s well-being is deemed to be compromised, the
librarian in charge is obligated to take the appropriate
action.
Procedures for Unattended Children or
Dependent Individuals
When a staff member deems that supervision is
required for:
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A child who, under this
policy, should be attended but is not attended or
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A child who,
under this policy, may not be left unattended for a
prolonged period but has been left unattended or
-
A child or dependent
individual of any age who has become anxious or frightened
or disruptive
The staff member will take the following
actions:
-
Remain with the child
or dependent individual and find the parent or guardian, if
the parent or guardian is in the building.
-
If the parent or
guardian is not in the building, as will often be the case
with older children, the staff member will attempt to
contact the parent or guardian using information provided by
the child, telephone directory or library database. The
staff member will explain the situation and request that the
child be picked up. The staff member will file an incident
report with the library director.
-
If the parent or
guardian cannot be contacted, does not arrive or make
arrangements for the child to be picked up within thirty
minutes or, if the situation is deemed to be an emergency,
the staff member will notify the police and request that
they assume responsibility for the child.
Closing Time or an Emergency Closing
The library closes promptly at its posted
times and, occasionally, must close due to an emergency.
Children between 9 and 12 or children who require parental or
guardian supervision to leave the library, must be picked up
by a parent or guardian twenty minutes before closing time. If
a child remains in the library twenty minutes before closing
time, the staff will attempt to contact the parent or
guardian. If the child is not picked up by closing time, the
police will be notified and asked to assume responsibility for
the child. Staff member will remain with the child until the
police arrive.
A copy of this policy must be displayed at all
entrances to the Children’s Room.
Approved Date: 11/19/2008 |
