1. While in the Library, children age nine years or younger shall, at all times, be attended and adequately supervised by a responsible person (parent, guardian, caregiver, or mature adolescent). Preschoolers must be accompanied by that person when in the rest room, the elevator or the stairwell.

2. Children who are ten years or older may be unaccompanied for a reasonable period of time provided they observe library rules.

Children must have the telephone numbers of their parent, guardian, or other caregiver so that a responsible person may be contacted to come pick up the child in case of a health emergency or other special circumstance such as an unexpected closing or a child unaccompanied at closing time.

If the responsible person cannot come to the Library or perhaps cannot understand the message due to a language barrier, Step A.iii in the Procedure For Unattended Children will be followed.

3. Parents, not library staff, are responsible for the behavior of their children. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.

4. When the safety of an unattended child is in doubt, the library staff will attempt to contact the parents. If the parents are unavailable, the staff will contact the Nassau County Police.

5. Violations of this policy are grounds for suspension of library privileges.

Definitions:

Unattended Child – Child from preschool through age nine left in the Library unaccompanied by a responsible person (parent, guardian, caregiver, or mature adolescent)

Disruptive Behavior – Behavior that represents physical danger to the child or others, or behavior that interfere with other library users or staff. Disruptive behavior is behavior that is inappropriate in a library setting. Types of inappropriate behavior may be (but are not limited to): running, throwing, eating, loud or abusive talking, excessive socializing, moving furniture, abusing or defacing library materials (including library owned hardware and software).

Adopted October 1997
Revised 1/23/01; 1/27/04