This is a message from CTLS-L.
Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator.
Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list.
---------------------------------------------------------
To stir up the hornets' nest still more...
What do you do about children over 8 y/o (but under, say, 13 y/o) who
are left alone in the library for several hours, or even all day
(usually during the summer while the parent is at work, or sleeping
because s/he works nights)?
Short of calling the police, is there anything you can do about children
who cause a disturbance in the library, and the parents cannot be
reached (because the child either doesn't know, or refuses to tell,
their contact phone number)? I am assuming here that your policy forbids
you from expelling the child from the building unless in the care of an
adult).
What about unattended children left at closing time? Friday nights can
be especially problematic, because many libraries close earlier on
Fridays than on other weeknights. Unattended children at closing can be
a major source of resentment among library staff because normally (and
understandably) two people must stay with the child until the situation
is resolved, which may take 30-60 minutes - picking up unattended kids
from the library is not a priority call for police. Too bad if you had
plans for the evening!
What is the age above which we don't care if they are hanging around
outside the library after closing -14? 15? 16? 17?
Library administration is not always supportive of staff in these
situations because they fear problems with their political masters. I
have been told by an administrator that the subject is "too sensitive".
No one wants to admit that the library is a de facto free child minding
service provided by the city, but many of the people's representatives
are content that it should remain so.
Special needs children have a whole set of additional issues, but anyone
who leaves a special needs child unsupervised in a public library should
be brought before a court without delay.
I think that a region-wide, or even state-wide, policy or guideline on
unattended children in libraries (during the day and at closing time)
would be helpful, but I suppose it would founder on the rock of "local
control".
I should add that I have personally experienced all of the situations
described above, but not in my present place of employment.
Robert Logan
Manager, Collection Development and
Technical Services
Round Rock Public Library System
216 East Main
Round Rock, TX 78664
Telephone: (512) 218-7014//Fax: (512) 218-7061
-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Patterson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 4:38 PM
To: 'SuzAnne Beard'; 'Barbara Hathaway'; 'Shanda Subia'; 'CTLS
Discussion Group'
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [ctls-l] Unattended children policy
This is a message from CTLS-L.
Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator.
Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the entire list.
---------------------------------------------------------
I don't believe that the Austin policy addresses special needs
children. We were very concerned about fairness and equitability, so we
just stuck with one "age"
jennifer
________________________________
From: SuzAnne Beard [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 4:29 PM
To: Jennifer Patterson; 'Barbara Hathaway'; 'Shanda Subia';
'CTLS Discussion Group'
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ctls-l] Unattended children policy
At one time, we researched this as well. It seems that the law
is very vague and we wound up discussing special needs, maturity and how
different two children in the same family could be at the same age. I
would like to know more about this. Jennifer, how does the Austin
policy accommodate special needs individuals? Thanks for bringing this
up! SuzAnne Beard, Wimberley
From: Jennifer Patterson <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 'Barbara Hathaway'
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ; 'Shanda Subia'
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ; 'CTLS Discussion Group'
<mailto:[email protected]>
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 2:16 PM
Subject: RE: [ctls-l] Unattended children policy
This is a message from CTLS-L.
Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator.
Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the
entire list.
---------------------------------------------------------
Austin Public Library has had an age limit of 8 for
several years. We settled on that age because we couldn't get a clear
answer from the City Attorney and eight seems like a turning point for
children, in terms of their ability to think things through and take a
little more responsibility. We required children younger than that to be
accompanied by an older sibling or babysitter of at least 13, or a
parent or another responsible adult.
I cc'd Diane Palan, because she could probably provide
you with a copy of their unattended children policy in digital form.
Diane?
Jennifer Patterson
________________________________
From: Barbara Hathaway
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 2:39 PM
To: Shanda Subia; CTLS Discussion Group
Subject: RE: [ctls-l] Unattended children policy
This is a message from CTLS-L.
Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator.
Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the
entire list.
---------------------------------------------------------
Shanda & others,
We have been researching this as well. I
have looked at dozens of policies from libraries around the US, and the
ages seem to be all over the place. I'm curious to hear what works in
Central Texas (if anything!)
Barbara
Barbara D. Hathaway, Director
Bee Cave Public Library
13333-A Highway 71 West
Bee Cave, Texas 78738-3104
512.767.6624 phone
512.767.6629 fax
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.beecavetexas.com
________________________________
From: Shanda Subia [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 2:25 PM
To: CTLS Discussion Group
Subject: [ctls-l] Unattended children policy
This is a message from CTLS-L.
Selecting "Reply" will send a message to the originator.
Selecting "Reply to All" will send a message to the
entire list.
---------------------------------------------------------
I would like to know what your policies are regarding
unattended children in the library. Do you require that children under a
certain age have a parent/caretaker with them or at least in the
building? If so, what are your age brackets?
Thanks,
Shanda Subia
Library Director
Lampasas Public Library
201 S. Main St.
Lampasas, TX 76550
512-556-3251
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
I GoodSearch for the Library Foundation of Lampasas, TX.
Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by
searching the Internet with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by
Yahoo!
