2020 Frederica Street - Owensboro, Kentucky 42301
Main Menu
|
|
Unattended Children Policy
|
The Daviess County Public Library welcomes all children to use our facilities and services. However, responsibility for children using the library rests with the parent/guardian or assigned chaperone - not with library personnel. Staff members are concerned when parents leave their young children alone or in the care of an older sibling or friend. Young children left unattended, even for a few minutes, can become frightened. An older child left in charge can be easily burdened by this responsibility. Sometimes children stay at the library for many hours or wait here after school until a parent picks them up. Often they become bored and restless. This leads to disruptive behavior, which interferes with the legitimate library business of other patrons and staff. Staff members cannot be placed in a position of supervising children who are too young to be unattended, or whose behavior indicates that they have stayed at the library for too long a time. For the safety and protection of youth, and for the benefit of all, the Daviess County Public Library Board of Trustees has developed the following rules:
CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO USE THE LIBRARY AS LONG AS THEIR BEHAVIOR IS NOT DISRUPTIVE.
The library assumes no responsibility for an unattended child. Parents should not view the library as an alternative to daycare. Unlike a daycare facility, the library is not a closed environment. Staff members can not monitor everyone who enters, and all adult patrons are free to use any public area within the library. For safety's sake, parents should make sure that their children are sufficiently mature before allowing them to visit the library by themselves. Parents should be advised that if their children misbehave, they might be told to leave the library and the library grounds. Parents should further realize that, even in their absence, they are legally responsible for their children's behavior.
CHILDREN MUST LEAVE THE LIBRARY AT CLOSING TIME.
Children left to wait outside the building for a ride after the library has closed are placed in a vulnerable position. Staff members are not responsible for the safety of a child once the library has closed. Under no circumstances will a staff member ever take a child out of the library or give a child a ride home. However, staff members will attempt to contact parents.
If they are unsuccessful, the police will be summoned to assist the child.
(Adopted by the DCPL Board of Trustees 10-16-97)
|
|
Phone: (270) 684-0211 | FAX: (270) 684-0218 | Telecirc: (270) 684-9100
Copyright ©2005 Daviess County Public Library
Supported by funds from the Friends of the Daviess County Public Library
