Safe Child Policy

Safe Child Policy

SAFE CHILD POLICY

Statement of Philosophy

The Chambers County Library welcomes children of all ages. It is a doorway through which life-long learning takes place. The library is a public building and, as such, everyone is welcome.

Children in the library should make effective use of the library. Effective use includes reading books or magazines or working on homework or special reading or writing assignments.

Library staff have many duties to perform in order to serve all the citizens of the Chambers County and West Point area. They cannot monitor the behavior and whereabouts of each patron, including children. Staff do not take over parental responsibilities for children who come to the library.

A child could be tempted to go off with a stranger. A child could become ill. Any of these or other emergencies could take place in a public building. It is for the safety of each child that the Chambers County Library has adopted this Safe Child Policy.

Statement of Policy

Parents/caretakers are responsible for the child’s behavior at all times while in the building. A caretaker is defined as an individual at least 16 years of age who acknowledges this responsibility for the child. Children 10 years of age or younger must remain in the company of the parent or caretaker.

A child 10 years or younger who is attending a library program need not be accompanied into that program by a parent/caretaker, unless otherwise indicated. Parents/caretakers must, however, be present in the building during the programming in case an emergency should arise.

Child Left Unattended

Children 10 years of age or younger should not be left unaccompanied in the library. Unattended children who appear to be lost or frightened will be comforted by a staff member. The staff member will try to identify and locate the parents/caretaker.

  1. The child will be asked if he/she knows which area of the library his/her parent/caretaker planned to visit.
  2. The child will be taken to that area. If the responsible person isn’t there the child will be escorted around the library until they are located.
  3. If not able to be located in the library building, a staff member will monitor the child until the parent/caretaker returns to the library
  4. When located, the library policy on unattended children will be explained and a copy given to the parent/caretaker.
  5. Staff will record the parent’s/caretaker’s name, address, telephone number and the child’s name.
  6. Staff will refer any additional incidents to the police.

Unattended Children after Closing Time

Library staff must exercise appropriate procedures to ensure the safety of unattended children 17 years of age and younger when the library is closing.

  1. The parent/caretaker of any child at the library without a ride at closing will be given a copy of the safe child policy.
  2. If no ride has arrived within 15 minutes after closing time the staff will call the Police Department. Police and staff will monitor children left unattended. Parents are responsible for being aware of the times the Library opens and closes.
  3. Staff will record the parent’s/caretaker’s name, address, telephone number and the child’s name.
  4. Once found, the parent/caretaker will be given a copy of the Unattended Children after Closing Policy.
  5. Staff will refer any additional incidents to the police.

Library staff members never give rides to these children or leave them alone in the building or on the library grounds.

Appropriate Behavior Policy

Parents or caretakers are responsible for monitoring the behavior of their children in compliance with the Chambers County Library Behavior Policy. The policy deems the following behaviors unacceptable for children:

  • Loud conversation, laughter or noise which is disturbing to others.
  • Engaging in disorderly conduct, committing a nuisance, or unreasonably disturbing and offending library users or staff.
  • Displaying other behaviors inappropriate in a public library setting.

A. Disruptive attended children 10 years of age or younger:

  1. The parent/caretaker will be informed that the child is disturbing others and asked to control the child’s behavior.
  2. If the parent/caretaker refuses or is unable to control the child the librarian or staff member in charge will ask the family to leave.

B. Disruptive unattended children 10 years of age or younger:

  1. Child will be asked to behave.
  2. Refer to “Child Left Unattended” portion of this document and proceed as outlined

C. Disruptive children 11 years of age and older:

  1. Child will be asked to behave and given an oral warning
  2. If, after 10 minutes, the disruptive behavior continues, the library staff will attempt to notify the child’s parent/caretaker to come pick up the child. If the parents are unable to be reached, the library staff reserves the right to call the Police Department to come pick up the child.
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