Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library | about ~ unattended_child

Welcome to the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

Unattended Child Policy

Revised and approved by the

Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Board of Trustees.

October 20, 2005

The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library welcomes use by your child, and staff will assist him/her in use of Library materials or services. A responsible adult or caregiver shall accompany a young child while he/she is using the Library, for the child’s safety and comfort.

Definitions:

For the purposes of this policy,

a child is anyone under 8 years old
a caregiver is any individual 12 years of age or older who has the authority and responsibility to care for a child by the child’s parent or legal guardian.

Policy The Library does not act in loco parentis (in place of parents) and Library staff does not have the authority to take responsibility for your child. A child must be continually accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or caregiver unless the child is attending a library program.

If an unattended child calls attention to him/herself, Library staff will attempt to locate the parent/caregiver in the library and inform him/her of the policy.
If the parent/caregiver cannot be found, the Topeka Police Department will be asked to intervene.

Parents/legal guardians/caregivers and children who are in violation of this policy are subject to suspension of library privileges.