Unattended Child Policy
In an effort to provide a library environment that allows all patrons to use
library materials and resources in a safe, relaxed manner, the Board of Library
Trustees of the Hopkinton Town Library has adopted a policy statement concerning
unattended or disruptive children.
Children under the age of ten must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or
a young adult or sibling of at least 14 years of age who acknowledges
responsiblity for the child, during their entire stay in the library. Exceptions
to this rule may be discussed with the library director.
Children under the age of ten years may not be left unattended in the library,
unless the child is participating in a library program and has the permission of
library staff to be there unsupervised. Parents are responsible for their
children's behavior while in the library. Children and young adults who are
disruptive in the library or on library property interfere with library service
to all patrons. The Hopkinton Town Library is not a daycare institution and the
staff members are not babysitters. It is a public institution where all patrons
have an equal right to quality library service in a friendly and peaceful
environment.
If a child under the age of ten is left unattended in the library, the staff
will inform the parents of library policy prohibiting this. If the child is
repeatedly left unsupervised, parents will be notified that their child is no
longer permitted to use the library unattended.
Even though a telephone is available for children to call parents for rides
home, parents should be aware of the library's opening and closing hours.
Parents should make arrangements for the child to be picked up at the
appropriate time. The library staff is not responsible for children who have not
been picked up by the library's closing time.
Adopted by the Board of Library Trustees, February 1999
