[Michlib-l] Unattended Children Policies

[Kat Boyer]

We have a lot of walk-in children especially other children supervising
even younger children and we settled on 10 to be here without someone else,
and at least 12 to be considered the supervisor for younger children.

-Kat Boyer

Kat Boyer
Interim Director
Benton Harbor Public Library


On Thu, Mar 31, 2016 at 12:42 PM, Marsh, Nyama <N.Marsh at wfblibrary.org>
wrote:

> We are in a very walkable, low-crime community, so we have many children
> who walk to the library alone. We settled on 9+ as the age when they can be
> unattended, and 12+ to be the "assigned chaperone" for children under 9.
>
> Here is our current Unattended Children policy.
> ~Responsibility for the welfare and the behavior of children using the
> library rests with the parent/guardian or an assigned chaperone. Though
> staff will always respond with care and concern, they cannot assume
> responsibility for children's safety and comfort when they are unattended.
> Staff may need to contact authorities such as the Police either to assist
> with the enforcement of discipline in the library or to ensure the safety
> of an unattended child.
>
> Young children should be attended and adequately supervised by a parent,
> guardian, or caregiver who is a responsible person of at least twelve years
> of age. Older children may use the library unattended provided they are
> able to maintain proper library behavior.
>
> And from our Library Rules of Conduct policy.
> ~YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE LIBRARY
> Parents or guardians are at all times responsible for the supervision of
> their children. Children 8 years or younger should be attended and
> adequately supervised by a parent, guardian, or caregiver who is a
> responsible person of at least twelve years of age. This is to prevent
> accidental injury, avoid disturbance to other Library patrons and prevent
> any damage to Library property.
>
> Per the Unattended Child Policy: "Staff may need to contact authorities
> such as the Police either to assist with the enforcement of discipline in
> the library or to ensure the safety of an unattended child."
>
> Children, 9 years of age or older, may use the Library unattended provided
> they are able to maintain proper Library behavior.
>
> Thank you and have a wonderful day,
> Nyama
>
> Nyama Y. Marsh
> Library Director
> n.marsh at wfblibrary.org
> 414-755-6551 (direct line)
>
> Whitefish Bay Public Library
> 5420 North Marlborough Drive
> Whitefish Bay, WI 53217
> 414-964-4380 (main line)
> "There are many ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the
> best of all." ~Jacqueline Kennedy
> "Leaders don't force people to follow - they invite them on a journey." ~
> Charles Lauer
>
>
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