Unattended Child Policy

The Polk County Public Library welcomes children of all ages. It is important to the library that children are encouraged to develop an interest in reading and learning.

Library staff has many duties to perform in order to serve the citizens of Polk County. Library staff is not expected to assume responsibility for the care of unsupervised children in the library. Children's caregivers are responsible for their children's behavior and safety while on library premises. Caregivers can be parents, guardians, relatives, teachers, day-care staff, responsible babysitters or siblings, etc. Responsible caregivers are considered to be those fourteen years of age and above.

Therefore, it is the library policy that all children nine and under must be accompanied with a parent or designated responsible person while in the library. If the young child is attending a library program, the parent/responsible person to remain in the library throughout the program, with children aged six and under must be under direct supervision of the parent/caregiver.

Children ten to fifteen years of age may remain in the library without a caregiver present if they are observed by library staff to be using the library appropriately. Appropriate library use includes but is not limited to:

• Looking at or reading magazines
• Quietly using computers
• Working on schoolwork or other projects
• Participating in library programs or activities

Children in groups in the library must be supervised by an appropriate number of caregivers per size of the group and age of the children. The following guidelines are set forth for groups of children using the library:

• Children under age 3- Direct supervision from a responsible adult is required
• Children aged 3-7 - One supervisor for every five children must be available for direct supervision
• Children aged 8 and up- One supervisor for every ten children is required.

Groups of 10 or more children are required to contact the children's librarian to pre-register for children's programs at least 5 days in advance so that the library may better plan for their participation.

Due to the safety of the children and other patrons using the library, special attention should be given in supervision of children on the library staircase, deck, and elevator. Children should not be permitted to run anywhere in the library or use the elevator or deck without appropriate supervision.

Library staff will exercise appropriate procedures to ensure the safety of unattended children seventeen years of age and younger when the library is closing. Any unattended children will be alerted about fifteen minutes before closing time to contact their parent and/or ride so they will be picked up at or before closing time.

If, upon closing, unattended children remain in the library, library staff will verify that the child has contacted his/her parent or ride. If the child has not been picked up within the next fifteen minutes, the Columbus Police Department (Main Branch in Columbus) or the Saluda Police Department (Saluda Branch Library) will be contacted.

Everyone who uses the library will be subject to the Polk County Public Library's Disruptive Behavior Policy.

Updated 10/16/2008

Approved by Library Board of Trustees: April 17, 2003
Liz Malloy, Chairperson,
Polk County Public Library Board of Trustees