Child Safety Policy
The Seekonk Public Library welcomes children of all ages to use its facilities and services. The Library seeks to provide a safe and secure environment for all of its young users.
The Children’s Room is reserved for the use of children, their parents and/or caregivers, and adults interested in children’s literature.
Parents or assigned caregivers are solely responsible for the minors that they either accompany or leave at the Library. Staff of the Seekonk Public Library assumes no responsibility for the behavior or safety of unattended children beyond the caution dictated by obviously dangerous situations. The Library staff will not assume responsibility on behalf of either themselves or the Library for any unattended child.
Unaccompanied children must be able to abide by the rules of behavior established in the “Policy on Behavior.”
Children may use the Library unaccompanied by a parent/guardian/caregiver when the child is at least 10 years of age and sufficiently mature and responsible.*
*Children under 10 may attend a supervised library program without a caregiver as long as the parent/guardian or caregiver remains in the library and immediately joins the child when the program is over.
The designated caregiver must be at least 14 years of age.
Unaccompanied children must be picked up 15 minutes prior to closing. Age limits may be imposed on certain programs and services, however, at the discretion of the library director.
In the case of a medical emergency, library staff will call 911 and a parent/caregiver (if known), in that order.
In the case of an unexpected closing, library staff will attempt to reach a parent/caregiver. If that parent/caregiver is unable to pick up the child within 15 minutes, library staff will contact the Seekonk Police Department.
The Board of Trustees authorizes the library director to establish rules and procedures to deal with unattended children. Nothing in this policy shall be construed as limiting the discretionary authority of the library director to take corrective action when an immediate danger to a child exists.
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Date Approved: 6/21/2005