Child Conduct and Safety in the Library Policy
Halifax Public Libraries welcomes children to enjoy its programs and services. Library staff are trained to assist children in using the library but they cannot accept responsibility for children's safety and supervision. Each of our libraries is a public building with all the inherent dangers of such a setting. Library policies and services are designed to provide a safe and welcoming environment for library users of all ages but parents need to use the same caution with their children at the library as they would in any other public setting.
Purpose of the Policy
The purpose of this policy is to provide library staff with guidelines when confronted with a situation where a child's conduct is unacceptable or the child's security is at risk.
Definitions
For the purposes of this policy:
- "child" means a person under sixteen years of age unless otherwise specified
- a parent is any person who is either the natural, adoptive, or foster parent of the child.
- a caregiver is anyone over 12 years to whom the parent has given responsibility for the care of the younger child.
Child Conduct in the Library
Parents are responsible for the conduct of their children in the library as outlined below:
- Parents must ensure that children requiring supervision are brought to the library with a responsible caregiver.
- Children under 8 years must have a parent or caregiver in the immediate vicinity unless they are participating in a library program.
- Parents or caregivers who do not attend a program with the child under 8 years of age must remain on the premises.
- Children 8 years and over may use the library unattended for an amount of time appropriate to their age and maturity.
- Teenagers may use the library independently on a regular basis, but parents are still responsible for the behaviour of any children while in the library.
- The library may require children who are in chronic violation of library rules in spite of repeated barring to be accompanied by a parent / caregiver during library visits for a period to be determined by senior management.
Unattended Children in the Library
Library staff will implement the library's Procedure for Dealing with Unattended Children in the Library in these, or similar situations:
- A child is alone and frightened or crying in the library
- Any child under the age of 8 is alone in the library
- A child is alone and doing something dangerous, or another person in the library seems to be a danger to the child
- A child is alone, and is not following library rules after reasonable warnings
- A child is left alone at the library at closing time
Requests for information re Truant children
As a public facility, the library does not monitor the activities of its customers unless there is a problem with conduct or a child is inappropriately left alone as outlined above.
If a school age child is noticed to be spending considerable time in the branch during the school day, staff may check with the child and ask that a parent confirm with the library that he/she is aware of the child's whereabouts.
Requests for Information re Missing Children/Runaways
Staff will not give information to any person over the telephone as to whether a minor is currently in the library or has been in the library recently. If the situation seems to be serious, staff may offer to take a message and ask the child to call the person back. If a subpoena or court order is presented in person, staff will cooperate with police or other authorities in helping to locate a missing minor.
In child custody disputes, children may be at risk of abduction from someone who has sufficient ID as a parent/ guardian. For this reason, staff will provide information about a minor's visits to the library only to parents /guardians who:
- Show sufficient ID to prove their guardianship of the child AND
- Are accompanied by a police officer, social worker or other person who can verify that the parent has a legitimate need for the information.
