Delphi Public Library: Safe Child Policy

Ongoing Programs

Northwest Branch

About the Library


Enriching Your Child's Library Experience Safe Child Policy
Parent-Library Partnership Dear Parent, You have applied for library privileges for your child because you are interested in providing your child with a variety of educational and enriching activities. We want to be partners with you and provide an enjoyable experience that will help your child develop knowledge, reading ability, and cultural awareness. Our role in this partnership is to select diverse, quality materials that will challenge, interest, and inform children. We will be glad to make recommendations for your child based on your personal criteria. Please remember, however, that we are a public library; we collect materials suitable and of interest to all segments of the public. Your role in this partnership is to see that materials borrowed by your child are appropriate for that individual child. The library feels that it is also your responsibility to make your child aware of the obligation to return materials in a timely manner and in good condition. You have high performance expectations for the library staff, and we try to meet or exceed those standards. In order for us to do our jobs well and to meet our responsibilities as caretakers for the community’s informational resources, we have expectations of you as well. Please read through the following expectations carefully. Please let us know if we can assist you or your child in any way. Marcia Sledd Children’s Librarian Our Safe Child Rules & Expectations We want the Delphi Public Library to be a welcoming, safe place for your children. Our staff has many duties to perform in order to serve all patrons in the best way possible. For this reason, the staff cannot monitor the whereabouts or behavior of our smallest patrons - your children. Staff cannot assume the responsibility of your children’s care when they are in the library. No public place, including the library, can guarantee the safety of children. A child could be approached by a stranger, become ill, wander outside, or become lost or injured. We are primarily concerned with your children’s safety, and we believe that our policy helps assure their well-being. We expect parents/caregivers to be responsible for their children’s behavior in the library. We expect parents to understand and explain the library rules to their children. The rules and policies have been developed to safeguard the collection and ensure fairness for all library users. We expect all children under the age of 8 to be accompanied by an adult at all times while visiting the library. The library in no way assumes responsibility for any child left unattended in the building. We expect all children and teens to use appropriate language and behavior in the library. Those who do not will be asked to leave. We expect parents to set reasonable time limits for their children’s library visits. Parents/caregivers must remain in the library during programs if their child is under 5 years of age. Children 5 and older may attend library programs without a parent, but parents must promptly pick up children upon conclusion of the program. We expect parents to let us know if they or their children are unable to find the type of material they seek. We welcome suggestions for materials that will broaden our collection and improve our services. We expect parents to be responsible for the types of materials checked out by their children and their selection choices. The library staff do not limit choices or censor materials. We expect parents to see that overdue fines are promptly paid. Parents are financially responsible for any damages to library materials, equipment, or property incurred by their children. We expect parents to maintain control of their children while visiting the library. Please remember that the library staff’s professional services do not include baby-sitting. We expect parents to help their children arrive on time for programs. We expect parents who attend children’s programming with their children to demonstrate good listening habits. We expect parents/caregivers of children between the ages of 9 and 12 to have a responsible plan for picking up their children by closing time. We expect parents to keep sick children at home and not bring them to the library, especially during children’s programming when illness may easily be spread to other children. We Care about the Safety of Your Child If a child under the age of 8 is found unattended while the library is open, library staff will attempt to locate the parent/caregiver in the library. If the parent/caregiver cannot be found, law enforcement officials will be called, and the child will be placed in their care. If a child age 8 through 12 has not been picked up by a parent/caregiver within 15 minutes of closing, law enforcement officials will be called, and the child will be placed in their care. If a child age 8 through 12 is found unattended when the library is open and the child has become ill or frightened, has become disruptive and will not respond to verbal warnings from library staff, is upset because of weather conditions, long hours out of contact with the parent/caregiver, or other special circumstances, law enforcement officials may be called, and the child may be placed in their care. After a child has been placed in the care of law enforcement personnel, the staff will leave notes about the child’s whereabouts at the front desk and on the front door of the library. Under no circumstances will a staff member give a child a ride home, take a child outside the building, or remain in the building alone with an unattended child. Parents who disregard library policy regarding this matter may be reported to the appropriate social services agency and may lose all library privileges. You Can Help Your Child Become a Lifelong Reader As a parent the most important thing you can do to enrich your child’s reading appreciation is to read aloud to them. You don’t need expensive products that promise instant reading success and deliver less than perfect results. Children of all ages benefit from parents sitting down with them and reading aloud from a book, magazine, or even a comic page of the newspaper. When children hear the written word read to them, they increase their own vocabulary, their appreciation of the English language, and their compassion for others. Be a role model for your child. Children will emulate your actions more than your words. Let them see you reading for pleasure. Share with your child your thoughts and feelings concerning literature and the ways in which it has shaped your life and contributed to your personal development. Show them the importance of being a lifelong learner and that the library is a wonderful place to continue that learning experience. Make going to the library a regular excursion for you and your child.