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Safety of Children in the Library

The Trustees and the staff of the Sharon Public Library hope that the children who use the Library will find the facility to be a warm, inviting and fun place to develop an appreciation of the varied services/materials that the Library offers to them. Many programs are offered to make the Library enticing to children but when children are left unattended they often become disruptive. Young children are not safe when left unattended in the Library.

Rules

1. The policies and rules for disruptive behavior as stated in the Behavior Policy apply to children as well.

2. Staff members will ask children who are being disruptive to stop the behavior. Alternative activities may be suggested.

3. Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children in the Library.

4. Staff members will try to find a child’s parent if the child is disruptive. The parent will be informed that the child is disturbing others and that the behavior must cease or they will have to leave the Library.

5. Children under six (6) may not be left unattended. A child’s participation in a story hour for which s/he is registered is not considered unattended provided that a parent is in the building. A sibling and/or a babysitter may accompany a young child; however, if the sibling or babysitter cannot control the younger child, the younger child shall be considered unattended.

6. The family will be asked to leave if parents do not cooperate with a staff member’s request or are unable to control their children.

7. If staff members cannot locate a parent or guardian in the building, efforts will be made to contact a parent elsewhere. The parent will be advised of their unattended child’s disruptive behavior and asked to pick up their child immediately.

8. If a parent cannot be located the staff may elect to call the police. Under no circumstances shall a staff member take a child out of the building or transport the child to another location.

9. If a child is unattended shortly before closing time, staff will attempt to contact a parent. If that is not possible the police will be called. No unattended child will be allowed to remain at the Library after closing; two (2) staff members will remain with the unattended child until a parent or the police pick up the child.