Unattended Children Policy
Children are welcome in our libraries and we are concerned about their safety and welfare. However, parents, guardians and caregivers are responsible for monitoring the activities and regulating the behavior of their children while the children are in the library.
Children 6 years and younger must be in the immediate vicinity of a parent or caregiver. Children under the age of 10 must not be left alone at the Library, and must be supervised by a parent or caregiver who is in the library with them. All caregivers must be at least 14 years of age. Children ten or older may use the library alone. All patrons are subject to the Policy for Loud and Disturbing Behavior in Library, in which all Library users will be expected to act within these guidelines, or they can be asked to leave the Library.
If a child under 10 is left unattended, or if any child under the age of 14 is deemed to be at risk of coming to harm (as in the case of being left unattended when the library is ready to close), an effort will be made to locate the responsible parent, guardian, or caregiver, unless the child is sure that a parent, guardian or caregiver is picking the child up in a reasonable time period. If necessary, the police, SCAN, or a juvenile welfare-related agency may be called if children under 14 years of age are left unattended prior to regular opening time or have not been picked up prior to closing time, or if children under 10 are left at the Library unattended.
The Library respects the privacy of all library patrons and will intervene only when, in the opinion of the library staff, the safety and well-being of a child is threatened.
