The Library welcomes children. For the safety and comfort of children, a responsible adult or caregiver must accompany them while they are using the Library.
The Public Library aims to insure high quality, professional service to all its customers. The Library serves the community most effectively when everyone conforms to the following guidelines.
Library staff is trained to help children with library materials and services. We want to provide a safe and appropriate environment for all library users. However, our library is a public building. The library does not have facilities or staffing to provide childcare and childcare is not the library's role.
Parents and caregivers are responsible for the safety, comfort and behavior of their children while in the library. Parents need to make sure children come to the library with a responsible person.
Library staff members will take the actions outlined below in these or similar situations:
- A child is alone and frightened or crying in the library
- A child is alone and doing something dangerous, or another person in the library seems to be a danger to the child
- A child is alone and is not following library rules
- Any child under the age of thirteen is alone in the library
- Any child using the library during school time without an adult present
Library staff members will evaluate the situation and try to contact the child's parent or guardian. If staff cannot reach the parent or guardian, they will place the child in the care of the appropriate local law enforcement agency.