Unattended Child Policy
500-70
For
the protection and well being of children who use and enjoy
our Library, the following policy has been established:
1. While in the Library, children age nine years or younger
shall, at all times, be attended and adequately supervised
by a responsible person (parent, guardian, caregiver,
or mature adolescent). Preschoolers must be accompanied
by that person when in the rest room, the elevator or
the stairwell.
2. Children
who are ten years or older may be unaccompanied for a
reasonable period of time provided they observe library
rules. Children must have the telephone numbers of their parent,
guardian, or other caregiver so that a responsible person
may be contacted to come pick up the child in case of
a health emergency or other special circumstance such
as an unexpected closing or a child unaccompanied at closing
time. If the responsible person cannot come to the Library
or perhaps cannot understand the message due to a language
barrier, Step A.iii in the Procedure For Unattended Children
will be followed.
3. Parents, not library staff, are responsible for the
behavior of their children. Disruptive behavior will not
be tolerated.
4. When the safety of an unattended child is in doubt,
the library staff will attempt to contact the parents.
If the parents are unavailable, the staff will contact
the Nassau County Police.
5. Violations of this policy are grounds for suspension
of library privileges.
Definitions:
Unattended
Child – Child from preschool through age
nine left in the Library unaccompanied by a responsible
person (parent, guardian, caregiver, or mature adolescent)
Disruptive
Behavior – Behavior that represents physical
danger to the child or others, or behavior that interferes
with other library users or staff. Disruptive behavior
is behavior that is inappropriate in a library setting.
Types of inappropriate behavior may be (but are not limited
to): running, throwing, eating, loud or abusive talking,
excessive socializing, moving furniture, abusing or defacing
library materials (including library owned hardware and
software).
Adopted October 1997
Revised 1/23/01; 1/27/04 |
