Purpose: It is the policy of the Calhoun County Library System to provide a safe and appropriate environment for library patrons of all ages. The Calhoun County Library System operates a community library with staff trained to provide public library services, but is not equipped to provide long- or short-term daycare for children of any age. The Library staff is not responsible for supervising or tending to the needs of individual users or groups of users.
Policy: Parents and guardians are solely responsible for the behavior of their children in the Library, whether or not the parent or guardian is present. If a young person is acting as the caregiver, the parent or legal guardian is ultimately responsible for the safety and behavior of all their minor children. Children under 8 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver (16 or older) at all times. Minors between the ages of 8 and 17 may be unaccompanied in the Library provided they follow all guidelines for patron conduct. Minor children are expected to behave according to the established Patron Code of Conduct Policy. Disruptive or inappropriate behavior will result in the individual(s) being asked to leave and/or being denied access to the Library for a designated period of time. The judgment of the Library staff prevails when requesting the removal or a minor child from the Library in event of behavioral difficulties.
Parents and legal guardians should be aware of Library opening and closing times. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for making arrangements to meet and transport their minor children who have been left unattended at the Library. If a child is unattended in the Library within 10 minutes of closing time, the child or Library staff will attempt to contact the parent. If the parent cannot be reached by telephone or if the child has not been picked up within 10 minutes after closing time, local law enforcement will be called. Under no circumstances will minor children be left alone until the parent, legal guardian, or law enforcement officer arrive to pick up the child. Under no circumstances will Library staff transport or escort a child home or to any other destination or leave the Library with a child.
Internet resources are available at the Library. The Internet may contain inaccurate, outdated, incomplete, controversial, or offensive information. All use of computer resources is at the risk of the user. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for monitoring and restricting their children’s use of these resources, and minors are required to follow all guidelines outlined in the Calhoun County Library’s Internet Access and Computer Use Policy.
The public library may contain materials that some parents find offensive or controversial in nature. It is the responsibility of parents and legal guardians to monitor children’s reading habits and make decisions regarding what minors may or may not read or view. Under no circumstances will Library staff be held responsible for what materials a child reads, views, or checks out from the Library.
Bodily injury, mistreatment, suspected child abuse, or abandonment of a minor child that places the child at risk of bodily harm will be reported to local law enforcement.