Policy Statement
Rampart Library District welcomes all patrons to use its facilities and services. We also strive to maintain a safe environment conducive to the welfare of all users. However, the safety of patrons cannot be guaranteed. Library staff members must attend to their duties. Therefore, they cannot supervise or look after patrons of any age, and especially children, while those individuals are using, entering, or leaving the library. Care and supervision of patrons is outside the scope of library staff services and duties. The responsibility for the care, safety and behavior of children or other persons requiring supervision during their library visit rests with the parent/guardian or caregiver.
Library staff do not seek out unattended children or other patrons in need of supervision. Rather, the library and its representatives endeavor to respond to distressed or problematic behaviors expressed by children, teen, or adult patrons who are generally in need of supervision or care. “Unattended” means that a caregiver is not in the same library service area as the patron for whom they have responsibility.
Guidelines
- Library staff members will evaluate each situation described below to determine if a patron is lost or unattended in these or similar situations:
- A patron is alone and frightened or crying in the library.
- A patron is alone and doing something dangerous.
- A patron is alone and is not following library rules or is in nonpublic or unauthorized areas.
- No caregiver comes to pick up a patron who requires a ride at closing time or a time expected by that patron.
- When it is determined that a patron who should be under the care of another is lost, distressed, or misbehaving and unattended in any part of the library, the library staff will attempt to locate the caregiver within the building. If the caregiver is located, the staff will offer them a copy of the library’s Unattended Patrons in Need of Care and Supervision policy and request that the caregiver, as well as the patron(s) requiring their care, comply with the policy. The Manager on Duty or Director may also impose sanctions on the caregiver and patron in need of care up to and including temporary suspension of library privileges.
- If the caregiver is not in the building, staff members will make every effort to contact them within a reasonable amount of time. If staff members are unable to make contact, they will call the local police department.
- Under no circumstances will a staff member take a patron out of the building.
- If a patron exhibits symptoms of medical emergency, staff will call the 911 EMS immediately.
Concerns about this policy must be presented in writing with specifics to the Library Director. Please provide your name and contact information. The Library District may amend or supplement this policy from time to time and reserves the right to do so.
Approved by the Rampart Library District Board of Trustees on July 12, 2005 Reviewed by the Rampart Library District Board of Trustees on December 12, 2020 and January 10th, 2023