Unattended Child Policy

BRYANT LIBRARY
UNATTENDED CHILD POLICY

Parents and guardians, not Library staff, are responsible for the behavior and supervision of their children while using The Bryant Library. The Bryant Library is a public place. Anyone may enter and use the facilities. Young children left alone in the building can be vulnerable and at risk. Therefore, the Bryant Library Board of Trustees has adopted the following policies:

Children 10 years old or younger, shall at all times be attended and adequately supervised by a responsible person (parent, guardian, other caregiver, or mature adolescent, age 14 or older). Children must be accompanied by that person when in the rest room, the elevator, or the stairwell.

Children over the age of 10 years may use the Library unattended for a reasonable period of time provided they are able to maintain proper Library behavior. Children must have the telephone numbers of their parent, guardian, or other designated adult so that a responsible person may be contacted to come and pick up the child in case of a health emergency, or other special circumstance such as:

Unexpected library closing, or a child unaccompanied at closing time. Every reasonable effort will be made by the staff to assist the child in contacting an appropriate adult. If no responsible adult is reached, or the child is not picked up within 30 minutes of Library closing, Library personnel may notify the police to assume custody of the child. Two staff members will wait with the child until the parent/guardian/other designated adult, or the police pick her/him up.Disruptive behavior. If an unattended child behaves in a disruptive manner, the child will be asked to correct her/his behavior. If the behavior persists, Library staff may, at their discretion, contact the parent/guardian/designated adult, or direct that the child leave the Library. In addition, the Library reserves the right to summon the police in order to preserve the Library's operations and/or protect the interests of the child.

We ask each parent/guardian/designated adult to be familiar with the Library's hours; to make advance arrangements to pick up or otherwise transport their children; and to inform their children what action they are to take in the event of an unexpected closure of The Bryant Library.

VIOLATION OF THE UNATTENDED CHILD POLICY CONSTITUES GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OF LIBRARY PRIVILEGES FOR THE FAMILY

(Adopted December 17, 2001)