Background and Purpose
Live Oak Public Libraries (LOPL) welcomes children of all ages.
Library facilities and staffing are not designed or licensed to provide basic child care needs or to supervise children. The library requests that parents/guardians consider the safety and well-being of their children and the needs of other library users by cooperating with the following policy:
- Children ages 8 and younger must be accompanied by a responsible person age thirteen or older to use the library.
- Children ages 9 and older may use the library independently, provided they are able to follow library rules and observe proper conduct. Children, like all library users, are required to respect library property and act in a manner appropriate to the use and function of the library.
- Disruptive behavior will be addressed using the Customer Behavior Policy.
Definition
Unattended Child: Any child age 8 and younger without adult supervision remaining in the Library during operational hours will be considered an unattended child.
Unattended Children Aged Eight and Younger Who Are Unaccompanied
- Library staff will attempt to locate the parent/guardian of unattended children (ages 8 and younger) in the library. If the parent/guardian cannot be located in the library, staff will attempt to contact the parent/guardian by telephone. If the parent/guardian cannot be reached by telephone or does not arrive within 30 minutes, the police will be called.
- Library staff will submit an Incident Report once the matter has been resolved with the police.
- Parents/guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children whether or not a parent/guardian is present.
Unattended Children with Disruptive Behavior
When a child age 8 or younger must be asked to leave the library for behavioral reasons, the staff member will find the person age 13 or older who accompanied the child to the library and ask that person to remove the child from the library. If it is determined that there is no accompanying person, a staff member will call a parent/guardian to come for the child. If the parent/guardian cannot be located, the staff member will call the local police department to come for the child. It will then be the responsibility of the police to find a responsible adult or to take the child to a childcare facility. The child must remain in the presence of at least two staff members until either the parent/guardian or the police assume responsibility.
When it is determined that a child age 9 or older must be asked to leave the library for behavioral reasons, the staff member should determine if a responsible adult must be called. Children living in the neighborhood and who can return home independently may be asked to leave the library immediately. The staff member will follow the policy for children ages 8 or younger if the child does not live in the neighborhood or if the child cannot return home independently.
When it is determined that a child age 9 or older must be asked to leave the library for behavioral reasons, the staff member may ask that child to exit the building immediately. The staff member may call a responsible adult to come for the child if the staff member judges that as the appropriate action.
Customer Behavior Policy Infractions
The library has both a Customer Behavior Policy, as well as a Suspension Matrix. Violations of the Customer Behavior Policy, and/or misconduct as listed on the Suspension Matrix, may result in suspension from the library and forfeiture of library privileges.
Library staff will orally communicate behavior expectations to library customers before enforcing a suspension from library services. If a Customer ignores the requests of library staff and engages in violations of the Customer Behavior Policy and/or displays inappropriate behavior listed on the Suspension Matrix, staff will proceed as outlined below:
- Customers engaging in violations that are determined to be minor by library staff will receive an oral warning.
- Customers who repeatedly engage in minor violations, or who display behavior that is disruptive to others, will be asked to leave the property for the day.
- Customers who are engaging in conduct that is threatening to the life and safety of another will be removed from the property immediately with the assistance of law enforcement.
- Customers who are engaging in behavior that is destructive to property and/or equipment will be removed from the property immediately with the assistance of law enforcement.
To allow the Leadership Team to address Customers who are in violation of the Customer Behavior Policy and/or displaying inappropriate behavior listed on the library’s Suspension Matrix, staff must follow the Incident Reporting Procedure.
Truancy
During school hours, children younger than 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Live Oak Public Libraries will do its best to uphold Georgia’s compulsory attendance law which requires mandatory attendance in a public school, private school, or home school program for children between their sixth and sixteenth birthdays. (Georgia Code: § 20-2-690.1)
If the child is truant, he/she will be informed of this law before officers are called and will have the opportunity to use the telephone to call a parent/guardian for a ride if needed.
Home-Schooled Students
In order to use LOPL alone during school hours, children who are subject to Georgia’s compulsory attendance law and are home-schooled will be required to have a parent/guardian with them in the library or present a letter from a parent/guardian stating the child is home-schooled. The letter must include emergency contact information. The parent/guardian will be called by staff to confirm the home-school status. If the child has a Virtual School ID, or other online school ID, that may be used as proof of home-school status.
Closing Time
Children who do not have transportation home at closing time will be asked for telephone numbers of a parent/guardian who can pick them up at the library. Please refer to Unattended Children After Hours Policy for further details.