Safe Child Policy

An important part of the Russell County Public Library’s vision is the library as a hub of education and our mission is to create a community of lifelong learners. Thus RCPL welcomes and encourages children’s use of the library.

However, the library is not a child-care facility. Staff can neither supervise children nor can they be responsible for unattended children. Patrons must remember that the library is a public building open to all so a child’s safety cannot be assured or assumed. Additionally, children alone can get bored, restless, or anxious. Differences in child development as well as emotional or social difficulty will affect whether a child may be expected to use the library without adult supervision.

In order to protect the child and provide a comfortable environment for all library patrons, the RCPL Board of Trustees has set the following guidelines:

A parent or caregiver at least 16 years of age must attend pre-school aged children at all times.
A parent or caregiver over the age of 12 should accompany children between the ages of 6 and 10.
Children over the age of 10 may use the library if their maturity level is sufficient and their behavior is appropriate.

If a child comes to the attention of the staff due to disruptive or distracting behavior or due to any situation that has the potential to endanger the child, the staff will attempt to contact a parent or caregiver (in or outside the library.) If a caregiver cannot be contacted in a timely manner, the library will contact the police or sheriff’s department.

Children should be picked up before the library closes; they cannot be left unsupervised on library property after closing. If children are at the library at closing, the library will contact the police or sheriff’s department

revised by the Library Board of Trustees September 16, 2003; reviewed May 23, 2019

Safe Child Procedures

When the library is open

When a child comes to the attention of the staff, if the child is young or seems nervous or distressed, reassure the child.

Try to find out the child’s name and who is caring for the child and if the caregiver is in the library.
If the caregiver is present, escort the child to the caregiver and explain policy and recommend that the child be kept with him/her.
If the caregiver has left the library (on errands, etc.), allow 15 minutes for caregiver’s return before attempting to contact the caregiver.
If a caregiver is not present, attempt to call and inform the caregiver s/he must pick up the child within 30 minutes. State that the police will be asked to take responsibility for the child after 30 minutes. Give caregiver a copy of policy when s/he arrives to pick up child.
If a child is uncooperative, or no caregiver arrives or is found to pick up the child within 30 minutes, contact the police. Be careful of the child’s feelings if a caregiver or the police are called. Reassure the child that s/he has done nothing wrong.

Staff will fill out an Incident Report when these procedures are used. The Library Director will send a copy of the Safe Child Policy by letter to the caregiver if the police take responsibility for the child.

revised September 2003

When the library is closing

At least 20 minutes before closing, check to see if any children, under the age of 16, are left unattended. Remind them that they should arrange a way home now if they do not have a ride. If the child doesn’t have a phone, staff may make a phone call on behalf of the child and remind parents that such arrangements need to be made before the child is left at the library.
At closing, check to see if any children remain unattended at the library. If an effort has been made to reach the parents and this is a first-time problem, attempt to contact the parents one additional time and give the parents 15 minutes to arrive. Give the parents a copy of the Safe Child Policy and the library hours when they arrive and inform them that the police will be contacted in the future.
If the child has been left before and parents have already been informed that the police will be contacted on the next occasion, call the police and explain the situation. Be sure to explain to the child that the police are coming to protect them, not punish them.
Phone Police–Lebanon: 889-7228 or Honaker: 873-5297 (or 873-6556) during business hours. Phone 911 after regular business hours.
Two staff members will wait with a child until either parents or police arrive. Comp time will be provided for extra time worked. Staff should never take a child home due to liability issues.

revised August 2011