Safety of Children Policy
Philosophy
The Trustees and staff of the Wilmington Memorial Library welcome children
of all ages to utilize our materials and services. In keeping with the
library's mission to "foster the joys of reading and lifelong learning,"
we endeavor to make the library a warm, inviting and safe place for
children.
The library staff is responsible for performing library service duties and cannot be responsible for the care or safety of unattended children. Parents are urged to accompany their children to the library and to stay with very young children during these visits. Unexpected events may occur if children are left unattended; the child may wander out of the building alone; be approached by untrustworthy people who sometimes visit public buildings; or be physically injured. In order to create an environment of safety and maintain an atmosphere where children can enjoy all that the library offers, the following policies have been established:
Policies:- Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their
children in the library.
- A child who is participating in a library program without a parent but such parent is in the building is not considered unattended.
- Toddlers or very young children who are left unsupervised while a parent is in another area of the building will be considered unattended.
- Children under 10 who are dropped off at the library without a parent, guardian, or older sibling will be considered unattended.
- Children under 10 may not be left unattended in the building.
- Rules regarding disruptive behavior in the Library's Patron Behavior Policy apply to children as well. If the child is disruptive, the child will be asked to leave the library.
- Children must be picked up before the library closes. Once the library is closed, children cannot wait inside the building and staff are unavailable to stay with children until they are picked up.
- Staff may contact the Wilmington Police Department if a parent or guardian of an unattended child cannot be located.
- In case of medical emergency when parents are not with the child, staff will contact the Wilmington Fire Department and the parents, in that order.
Adopted by the Board of Library Trustees -10/21/97
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