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Unsupervised Children Left In The Library

Preschoolers (under 8 years of age) may not be left unattended in the library unless they are participating in a library-sponsored program.  The library reserves the right to determine whether or not a preschooler in the care of an older brother, sister or friend is receiving proper supervision.

Unattended school-age children are free to utilize the library's resources as long as needed, provided that their behavior is not disruptive to other patrons or to staff members.

At times, however, unattended children may create a problem when they have no apparent purposeful intent to use library resources.  In such situations, children become bored and then place unfair demands on library staff to provide supervision and entertainment.  Generally, these children are not at the library of their own accord; rather, they must wait at the library until their parents come for them.  This situation occurs when parents attempt to use the library as a child care center.

The Library Board of Trustees asserts that it is the parents responsibility to provide child care; the library must not be used for this purpose.  If on repeated occasions library staff members have cause to notice unattended children with no observable intent to use library's resources, the children will be identified and a letter explaining the Library Board's position on this matter will be sent to their parents.  If the problem continues after the notice is sent to the parents, the library Director will contact the Social Worker at the Village of Bellwood's Police Department.

Recommendations are for the sites listed, not for sites linked to from those resources. The Library assumes no responsibility for what users of the Teen Scene, Children or Adult Services may access on the Internet. As with other library materials, restriction of a young person's access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.

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This website was created by Shanita Thompson and is being maintained by Afroz Asad
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Copyright © 2000 Bellwood Public Library
Last modified: December 05, 2005