The Wilson County Public Library welcomes children of all ages to visit the library. The
library provides programs and services that support literacy and learning skills. Through our
resources, the library wants to spread the joy of reading to our community’s children.

Our staff encourages children to visit the library in a safe manner. Staff and employees are
not responsible for any child’s care and supervision, or for accidents or other emergencies
that may take place on the library’s grounds.

Responsibility

• Parents and caregivers are responsible for the conduct of their child (under 18 years of age) while the minors are on library property regardless of whether they accompany the minor to the library. This includes supervising access to library materials.
• At all times the responsibility for the care, safety, and behavior of children lies with the parent and caregiver. This includes times when the parent and caregiver are not present within the library building or on library grounds.
• Library staff will determine whether a child’s behavior is inappropriate while at the library and will respond to such situations in a manner deemed appropriate based on the Courteous Conduct Policy.
• Parents/caregivers are responsible for any actions including, but not limited to, monetary responsibility for property damage or loss caused by their children under the age of 18.

Overview

• Children 12 and younger must be supervised by a parent or caregiver of at least 16 years of age. The parent or caregiver must always remain in the immediate vicinity of the child. Parents and caregivers of children 12 and younger are expected to remain with their children during library programs. If a child under this age is found without supervision, lost, or frightened, the staff will try to locate the parent/caretaker through the following steps:

1. The child will be asked if he/she knows which area of the library the
   caregiver may have visited.
2. The child will be escorted to that area and if the parent or caregiver is
   not located, will be escorted around the building in a search. When the
   parent or caregiver is located, staff will explain the library’s policy
   concerning unattended children.
3. Staff will fill out an incident report including the parent or caregiver’s
   name, address, etc.
4. A copy of the incident report will be filed with the library’s
   administration. If additional incidents take place, law enforcement will
   be notified.
5. If the caregiver is not located, a staff member will take the child to the
   Children’s Department and notify law enforcement.

• Children ages between 13 through 15 must have a parent/caregiver in the library
  building, though the assigned caregiver does not have to be in the immediate
  vicinity of the child. Parents and caregivers of children 15 and younger are not
  permitted to drop off minors and then leave.

Responsibility

• Previous arrangements should be made for the pickup of any child under the age of 16 at least 15 minutes before the library’s closing time.
• If parent/caregiver contact cannot be established when the library closes, library staff will notify the police and the child will be placed in their custody.
• An incident report will be filled out with as much information as is available for reporting purposes and documentation of turning the child over to the police. The library’s administration will receive a copy of the incident report.
• Library staff are not permitted to provide transportation for any child after closing. Two staff members will remain with the unattended child after closing.

Applicable Personnel/Departments

• All Library Personnel and Departments
• Library Security