BACKGROUND | INTENT | POLICY

Unaccompanied Children in City of Rockingham Libraries

Background

On occasions, children are left unattended in the City of Rockingham libraries for a period of time during the day. In addition, from time to time, unaccompanied children are still in the Library at Library closing time. 

Whilst these unaccompanied children are in the Library they have unsupervised access to the Internet and can damage Library resources. 

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Intent

This policy provides guidelines for library users and library staff relating to children in any of the City of Rockingham Libraries when they are not accompanied by a responsible parent or guardian. 

The well being, safety and behaviour of unaccompanied children may cause concern on the part of Library staff and other patrons. The objectives of this policy are to avoid disruption to the amenity and enjoyment of the Library Service by unaccompanied children, prevent the library from being used as a temporary “babysitting service”, and to ensure the safety and protection of young library users and Library resources, thus ensuring the best possible library service for all patrons, 

This policy also serves to protect the interests of Library Service staff. 

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Policy

The City of Rockingham assumes no responsibility for the welfare of any child left unattended in a City of Rockingham Library. 

Library staff are responsible for providing a range of services to our patrons but these responsibilities do not, and cannot, include the provision of supervision and care for any child left unaccompanied in the Library. 

When a child is enrolled in the Library service a responsible parent or guardian must be nominated. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to keep this information, including telephone numbers and addresses, up to date. This is the person who will be contacted in the case of an unaccompanied child being left in the Library and causing concern or at closing time in the Library. The responsible parent or guardian will be required to sign to indicate agreement with this policy. Membership of the Library is dependant on this signature. 

In the event a child is found unaccompanied in the Library and he/she is causing concern for any reason or the Library is closing, the parent/guardian will be contacted. The Library will attempt to contact the nominated person. The Library will only accept information about who to contact from the child if the child is not a member of the Library. 

If contact can be made with the responsible parent or guardian, they will be told that the child must be picked up immediately or failing that the Library Service will have to contact the appropriate Government welfare authority and/or the police. 

If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, or if a contacted parent/guardian has not picked up the child within one hour of being called, then the staff member will contact the appropriate Government welfare authority and the police.

Two staff members (which can include a security officer and a Library staff member) and the child will remain on the library premises until the nominated parent/guardian or if necessary the appropriate authorities arrive.

The Internet is an open and uncensored world wide network of information. The City of Rockingham Libraries will not be responsible for the quality, accuracy, legality, security or type of information accessed via the Internet. Parents and Guardians must assume responsibility for their children's use of the Internet and must accompany their children at all times if they want to monitor Internet information access.

Parents and Guardians must assume responsibility for any damage to Library resources caused by their children whilst the children are in the Library even when they are not accompanying their children.

The City of Rockingham libraries will display signs notifying parents/guardians of their responsibilities as follows:

The City of Rockingham will not take responsibility for the welfare of children left by parents/guardians in the library.
Leaving a child in a public place without parent/guardian support is an offence under the Child Welfare Act 1947.
It is the responsibility of parents/guardians at all times to monitor what their child is accessing and reading in any resources the Library makes available including the Internet.
Parents and or guardians accept all responsibility for any damage to Library resources caused by actions of their children.

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