Safe Child Policy

The Elkins Public Library welcomes children of all ages to use and enjoy the facilities, collections and programming offered by the library. The library attempts to provide a safe environment for children to select books and other materials and to attend library programming. However, young children are not safe when left unattended in the library. The staff cannot know if children are leaving the building with their parents or with strangers. For the safety of minor children and the enjoyment of all patrons using the library we have developed a specific policy regarding unattended children.

1. Children under the age of nine may not be left unattended at the library. A child is unattended if he/she is in the library without a parent or responsible adult over the age of fifteen. This includes children participating in library programming; a parent or other responsible adult over the age of fifteen must remain in the library during the program."

2. At the discretion of a responsible adult, a child age nine to fourteen may be left unattended for the period of time needed to select materials, complete a homework assignment, read, or attend a program. The child must know how to reach the adult in case the need should arise. Children should not be left for longer than two hours; the library does not provide childcare services.

3. Parents are responsible for the behavior of minor children at all times, even if they are not in the library with the child. Library staff
does not serve in loco parentis, in place of the parent. If a child's behavior is inappropriate for the library, and he/she does not respond to appropriate guidance from library staff, the parent will be contacted to remove the child from the library. If the parent cannot be reached and the child's behavior is deemed dangerous or unduly disruptive, the police department will be called.

4. If a child is left at the library without a way home one half hour prior to closing time, library staff may call the child's home or place of
business using information provided by the child, the patron database, or the telephone directory. If contacted, the parent will be told that their child must be picked up immediately. If the parent cannot be located or if a parent has not picked up the child within one half-hour, the library staff may contact the police department.

5  Under no circumstances will a staff member give a child a ride home.

6. The Elkins Public Library and its staff do not assume responsibility for any child left unattended in the library.

7. All library patrons are subject to the "Patron Behavior Policy" concerning disruptive behavior.

8. As used in this policy, the term "parent" may include legal guardians or other persons having custody or control of a minor.

June 2003