While every reasonable effort is made to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, Northland Public Library (“Northland”) does not provide supervision for unattended minors. Children requiring supervision may not be unattended or left in the care of others who are unable or unwilling to provide adequate care.
Guidelines
- Children under the age of 5 must be within arm’s reach of their parent/caregiver.
- No one under the age of 10 may be left unattended in the library without a parent/caregiver (at least 16-years-old) present on the same floor.
- Because many children and teens view Northland as a safe and informative place, sometimes they visit the library while they are truant from school. In many cases it is difficult to determine if children are truant, are home-schooled, attend private schools that are off for the day, or may be at the library for other reasons. Northland does not report children truant, except in instances where staff are concerned about repetitive truancy, in which case staff shall follow Mandated Reporter guidelines.
- Northland staff will attempt to notify the parent/caregiver if:
- The child is frightened or anxious while alone at the library;
- The child’s health or safety may be in danger;
- The child’s behavior disturbs other users of the library.
- Northland staff will contact ChildLine for those children whose basic needs for food, rest, parental supervision or attention are evidently not being fulfilled. Library staff are recognized as Mandated Reporters under Pennsylvania State Code § 42.42.
- Northland staff will notify the Town of McCandless Police if the library is closing and a parent or guardian of a child cannot be located in the building or by phone.
- If a child indicates they are waiting to be picked up, staff will wait until 30 minutes after closing. If the parent or guardian has not arrived, staff will call the Town of McCandless Police. Two library staff members will remain with the child until the police arrive.
- Staff may not drive children home.
While every effort is made to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, the Library does not provide supervision for unattended minors in the Library. Children requiring supervision may not be unattended or left in the care of others who are unable or unwilling to provide adequate care.
Revision approved 1/24/23
Approved 6/27/17
