Safe Child Policy

The Lincoln Lawrence Franklin Regional Library System (LLFRLS) welcomes all children and their families to use its facilities, resources, and services. Library visits are an important part of children’s creative and intellectual growth. LLFRLS staff wants each child’s visit to be a safe, rewarding and positive experience that encourages a love of reading for pleasure and knowledge for a lifetime. Children visiting LLFRLS libraries receive the same welcome, assistance, and respect as any other valued patron. It is for the safety of each child that LLFRLS has adopted the Safe Child Policy.

The Library does not serve in loco parentis (in place of a parent) like public schools do. The Library is a public facility which is open to everyone and caregivers are expected to accompany children in need of supervision on library visits to ensure the safety and well-being of children. As in all public places, “stranger danger” is a real concern. Library staff cannot prevent children from interacting with or leaving with persons who are not the appropriate
chaperone.

Therefore, the following rules have been established:

• It is the responsibility of the parents or legal caregivers to evaluate any materials accessed by their children. This includes the Internet, books, magazines, and other resources. Parents should be aware that there may be resources they judge inappropriate for their children and it is the parents’ responsibility to evaluate these resources.
• Children, like all library patrons, are required to respect library property and to act in a manner appropriate to the use and function of the library. Children are subject to the same LLFRLS guidelines as other patrons and the same consequences, including temporary expulsion from library property and suspension or permanent loss of library privileges.
• Caregivers must be aware of the library’s hours and must make arrangements to pick up their children before the library closes.
• Under no circumstances will library staff physically restrain or detain a child that insists on leaving the library grounds. If a child is not able to leave the Library without an adult, he/she should not be in the Library without an adult.
• Library staff will not transport or escort the child to any location off the premises nor offer the child a seat in his/her automobile.
• Employees and volunteers who work with children and youth should observe the “two- person rule” or the “open-door policy.” The two-person rule requires that employees take reasonable efforts to avoid situations where an employee is alone with children in a closed room with no outside visual contact. The open-door policy requires any solid panel door be open at all times children are present.
• In the event of an emergency that forces the immediate closing of the library, children should know what procedure to follow as predetermined by their caregiver.
• The library and its staff members will not be responsible for determining whether an apparent caregiver is a legally authorized caregiver of the child nor if the caregiver is of age to qualify as a caregiver under the terms of this policy.
• Violation of the LLFRLS Safe Child Policy may result in fines or loss of library privileges for the family.

Children (Birth-6 years)

• Must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times while on library premises.
• If not accompanied by a caregiver, the following steps will be taken by library staff:
  • The incident will be reported immediately to the Branch Manager or supervisor in charge.
  • The Branch Manager or supervisor will make reasonable efforts to contact a caregiver to supervise the children.
  • If a caregiver is not found on the library premises, the Branch Manager or supervisor will contact local law enforcement.
  • An incident report will be filed and associated with the child’s account and any associated accounts.

Children (7-9 years)

• Must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times while on library premises.
  • During supervised programs, must have a caregiver in the building that remains immediately accessible at the end of the programming or if the child needs to leave the programming.
• If not accompanied by a caregiver, the following steps will be taken by library staff:
  • The incident will be reported immediately to the Branch Manager or supervisor in charge.
  • The Branch Manager or supervisor will make reasonable efforts to contact a caregiver to supervise the children.
  • If a caregiver is not found on the library premises, the Branch Manager or supervisor will contact local law enforcement.
  • An incident report will be filed and associated with the child’s account and any associated accounts.

Youth (10-15 years)

• Youth may be left alone in the library without a caregiver. However, the responsibility for the safety and behavior of youth in the library rests with the legal caregiver and not with the library staff.
• Youth using inappropriate behavior will be informed of library rules. If inappropriate behavior continues, a caregiver may be called to pick up the youth and/or the youth may be expelled from the library.
• Youth will not be left on library property unattended after library hours. If no responsible adult arrives by 5 minutes after closing, the library will contact the local Police Department to assume custody of the youth. A staff member will stay with the youth on the library premises until a caregiver or the Police Department arrives.

Youth (16-17 years)

• Youth may be left alone in the library without a caregiver. However, the responsibility for the safety and behavior of youth in the library rests with the legal caregiver and not with the library staff.
• Youth using inappropriate behavior will be informed of library rules. If inappropriate behavior continues, a caregiver may be called to pick up the youth and/or the youth may be expelled from the library.

Definitions
Caregiver - any person, aged 16 years or older, responsible for the welfare of a patron below the age of 16 years

Procedures

• The Safe Child Policy will be available to review and/or distribute in a printed format in each library facility.
• With the adoption of this policy, library card application will require an acknowledgement by authorizing adults that they are aware of the Safe Child Policy and know how to access it. The library will post quarterly notifications to remind patrons about the Safe Child Policy.
• Enforcement of the Safe Child Policy may cause stress to both the staff members and the patrons involved, especially for the juvenile patrons. To the extent allowed, library staff should take measures that minimize the fear and anxiety young patrons may feel while the violation is being addressed. Each violation of the Safe Child Policy may be unique. The following checklist is a guide to assist staff in securing the safety of the children:

1. Ask the child his/her age to determine which guidelines are appropriate.
2. Ask the child who he/she is with.
3. Assure the child that they have not done anything wrong, but you need to find their parent/guardian. Let the child guide you to the caregiver.
4. If a caregiver is not present in the library facility, ask the child if he/she can call the parent. Let the child talk to their parent first, then ask if you can speak to the parent.
5. Always speak courteously with the caregivers. It is the behavior and not the person that is being corrected. If possible, speak out of earshot of the child to decrease stress.
6. If the child does not know their parent’s phone number, determine if you can locate the information on a patron record. If so, call the person, apologize for disturbing them, and ask if they are associated with the child. If so, explain the safe child policy and ask how the parent can resolve the situation. If, for any reason, the parent indicates that they are unable or unwilling to resolve the situation in a reasonable manner and amount of time, advise them that you must proceed with contacting the authorities in accordance with library policy. Do not argue with the parent past this point. End the conversation courteously and proceed as you indicated to the patron.
7. If you do have to contact authorities, explain that there is an unaccompanied minor in the building and that you have not been able to locate any caregivers. In some instances, law enforcement may not be aware that library staff cannot legally assume guardianship for minors (such as a daycare or school would do). Be prepared to explain this legal constraint to the officers. Explain to the child that you have called a policeman to help his/her parent. Emphasize that the policeman is coming to be helpful.

• Staff should always complete an incident report for repeat abuse of the Safe Child Policy or incidents involving the policy or verbal abuse by a patron.
• Staff should always notify the director and/or upper management of any incidents involving the police, as soon as possible after the actual incident.

Approved 09.10.2019