Unattended Children Policy

Unattended Children Policy

A primary mission of Cheltenham Township Library System is to foster a love of learning and reading in the young people of our community. Children are encouraged to use and enjoy the library.

1. Parents and other caregivers are required to supervise their children to ensure their safety and appropriate behavior in a public space. Library staff members are not responsible for supervising or insuring the safety of individual children. The library is not a substitute for a babysitter or daycare provider.

2. Children under the age of ten must be supervised by a responsible person while they are in the library even if they are attending a program. Parents or other responsible persons may be required to supervise older children if they create a disturbance in the library or disregard the rules of behavior.

3. Parents and caregivers are responsible for ensuring that children under the age of 14 are not left at the library at closing time without a way home. Adults should check library hours if they are providing transportation for children left alone at the library.

4. When children are left unattended at closing, library staff will wait with the child and assist him or her to contact a parent or caregiver. Library staff will not drive children home. After 15 minutes, the police will be contacted to take custody of the child and a letter will be sent to the parent or legal guardian warning of the violation of library policy. A second incident will result in the library requiring that the child be accompanied by an adult during his or her library visits.

Adopted April 28, 2004. Updated 2009.

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