Fontana Regional Library Safe Child Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

The Fontana Regional Library system welcomes children of all ages to use materials and services. The library staff encourages children to develop a love of reading and learning but is NOT RESPONSIBLE for their care and supervision or for accidents or other incidents that may happen to them.

Responsibility

Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the care, safety and behavior of their children under the age of 18, both within the library building and on library grounds, regardless of whether or not they accompany their child(ren). It is the responsibility of the library staff to determine whether a child’s behavior is problematic and to report suspected abuse or neglect. (Legal Reference G.S. 7B-301: Duty to report abuse, neglect, dependency or death due to maltreatment.)

Supervisory Guidelines for Child Safety

For reasons of safety, children under the age of 12 must be under supervision while in the library. If the child is 8 and under, they must be under direct supervision. Children between the ages of 9 and 11 may be in a different section of the library than their guardian, but the guardian must be present in the building. Children 12 years and older, may be left unattended at the library, with permission of a parent, legal guardian or caregiver, provided they abide by all aspects of Fontana Regional Library Code of Conduct Policy.

UNATTENDED CHILDREN AT CLOSING

The Fontana Regional Library system will not assume responsibility for parental negligence in caring for minor children nor do we assume parental responsibility for minor children left at any of the library locations at closing time.

The staff of the library is concerned about the safety of young people who may remain at the library at closing time. A minor who does not have firm arrangements for transportation will be encouraged to begin calling for a ride at least 15 minutes before closing time.

Upon closing, the library staff may take action they deem appropriate and necessary to provide for the welfare and safety of an unattended child, including, but not limited to, contacting local law enforcement or social services. If staff notices minors left at the library at closing time, they are to wait outside the building with the child for 15 minutes. Staff will call the local police to pick up the child if the child’s ride does not come within that time. Under no circumstances are staff members to offer transportation to those minors left at closing.

Revised 11/14/2023