Children

Mahopac Public Library endeavors to be a vital, friendly, comfortable center for meeting the informational, educational, recreational, and cultural needs for all residents of the community. The Library welcomes children to use its facilities and services and wants them to have a memorable visit in a safe and secure environment.

1. SUPERVISION
1.1 Library staff are responsible for assisting children with locating materials, answering reference questions, and presenting programs for the education and enjoyment of area children. The Library assumes no responsibility for the care and supervision of children.

1.2 Children in fifth grade and under who are using the Library’s resources or who are participating in Library programs shall be accompanied in the building by a responsible adult who must remain in the Library for the duration of the visit. [In accordance with New York State General Obligations Law Section 3-112, an adult is a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.] The Library reserves the right to contact the Carmel Police if a child in fifth grade and under is left unattended.

1.3 Children in sixth grade and up may use the Library unattended as long as their behavior is in accordance with the Library’s Code of Conduct. Parents are advised that, even in their absence, they may be legally responsible for their children’s behavior.

2. DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
Children who do not abide by the Library's Code of Conduct (whether or not accompanied by a responsible adult) will be given a warning that they must either cooperate or leave the Library.

If a child continues to be disruptive after this warning, then the child will be asked to leave. The child will be given the opportunity to contact a parent or responsible adult. If a parent or responsible adult does not pick up the child, then the Carmel Police will be called. [See accompanying Procedures for Disruptive Youth.]

3. CLOSING TIMES

3.1 REGULARLY SCHEDULED CLOSINGS
Parents must be aware of the Library’s hours and must arrange to pick up their children by closing time.

If an unattended child is still in the building at closing time, then the Library staff will act according to the following guidelines:
· Children will be given the opportunity to contact a parent or responsible adult.
· Staff members will not drive or escort the child(ren) off the premises.
· If the child is not picked up by a parent or responsible adult, then the staff will contact the Carmel Police.

3.2 EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
The Library may have sudden emergencies such as lack of heat or electricity. This may necessitate closing the Library without warning. Children should know what to do if the Library must close unexpectedly. If a child is left unattended during an emergency closing, then the same guidelines outlined in Section 3.1 will apply.

4. ACCESS TO MATERIALS
Parents are responsible for their children’s use of books, materials, and resources of Mahopac Public Library. Parents are the ultimate guardians for the informational pursuits of their children. No attempt will be made by the Library staff to restrict access to information.

5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MATERIALS
Children are issued library cards according to the process described in the Use of Materials section of the Policy Manual.

Parents may be responsible for unreturned or damaged materials checked out to, or otherwise removed from the Library by, their children through the age of eighteen (18).

Policy Adopted: May 23, 2001
Revised: January 28, 2004; November 16, 2005; February 28, 2007; October 22, 2008

PROCEDURES FOR DISRUPTIVE YOUTH
Disruptive youth will be:
1. Verbally warned that their conduct violates Library policies.
2. Asked to contact a responsible adult to pick them up if they fail to immediately comply with the directive to cease the disruptive conduct.
3. Asked to exit the premises if they fail to immediately comply with the directive to cease the disruptive conduct. Refusal to comply with such request and/or hostile or threatening responses may result in Library Staff notifying the police.

Incident Report(s) will be written up and given to the Library Director.

If the disruptive behavior continues, then a certified letter will be sent home to the student’s parent or guardian indicating that the student will not be permitted to enter the Library until his or her parent or guardian writes a letter to the Board of Trustees of the Mahopac Public Library requesting a meeting with the Board at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. At such meeting, the Board will meet with the parent/guardian to determine whether, and under what circumstances, the student will be given permission to return to the Library. The letter requesting such meeting must include the parent or guardian’s full name, address, and phone number.

Until such time as the parent or guardian requests a meeting with the Board, the offending student will be prohibited from entering the Library premises. Additionally, where students are continuously disruptive, they will be prohibited from entering Library premises until such time as the students will behave in accordance with Library policies.

Policy Adopted: February 28, 2007

Click HERE to return to the Library Policies page.