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Patron Behavior Policy
The following excerpts are taken from the PATRON BEHAVIOR POLICY of the Bethel Public Library. These sections pertain to child behavior and supervision and child safety both inside the library and on library grounds. Please review the complete policies for further information. You may link to the complete text of this policy from the “Administration” tab.
B. CHILD BEHAVIOR AND SUPERVISION
The Library Board of Directors and staff view service to children as an important part of the Library’s mission. Children are encouraged to use the Library for reading, study, research, quiet play, and attending programs.
However, parents, guardians, and caregivers should be mindful that the Library is a public building open to all individuals, and that unattended children are vulnerable. In order to provide for the general welfare of all persons using the Library, and in order to provide for the general safety of children using the Library:
- 1. All children ages 11 and under must be accompanied and adequately supervised by a responsible person (e.g. an adult or mature adolescent.)
- Children 12 years and older may use the Library when unaccompanied by a responsible adult. However, parents, guardians, or caregivers are expected to be aware of the opening and closing times of the Library, and to make suitable arrangements to meet and/or transport their children. Inclement weather, power failures, and other unforeseen emergencies can and do occur, requiring the Library to open late or to close early. Children left alone in the Library or on Library premises could be at risk of danger.
- Parents, guardians, and caregivers are responsible for the safety and conduct of their children while they are on Library premises. The Library is not responsible for children who socialize on Library premises after closing.
- The Library staff is not responsible for providing supervision and care for children while the parents, guardians, or caregivers are outside the Library or in another part of the building. The staff does not monitor children leaving the premises, nor is it their responsibility to know if a child is leaving with a parent, guardian, relative, friend, or stranger.
- Children are not allowed to go into staff areas including behind the Circulation Desk or other public service desks.
- Children are expected to adhere to the same standards of conduct as are adults. Disruptive children are defined as children violating the Library rules and regulations as defined by Library policy. Disruptive children may be asked to leave the Library. In the cases of small children whose behavior might at times be disturbing to others, Library staff may request that the caregiver remove the child from the building temporarily.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are referred to the Connecticut General Statutes 53-21a, which describes the legal consequences that can result from leaving children under the age of 12 unattended in a public place.
C. CHILD SAFETY:
Any public place can be dangerous for a child who is left alone or who is stranded after closing hours. While the Library staff does not accept responsibility for the safety, care, or supervision of an unattended child of any age, Library procedures will deal positively with issues of security and safety specifically related to minors.
| Approved by the Library Board of Directors: | January 22, 1990 |
| Revised and approved: | May 1996 September 23, 2002 December 12, 2005 |
Children's Circulation Policy
The following excerpts are taken from the CIRCULATION SERVICES POLICY and the BORROWER REGISTRATION AND LIBRARY CARD USAGE POLICY of the Bethel Public Library. These sections pertain to library card registration and usage and to the borrowing of library materials by minors. Please review the complete policies for further information. You may link to the complete text of both policies from the “Administration” tab or from the “Circulation” tab.
From the CIRCULATION SERVICES POLICY:
SECTION 2: ACCESS TO LIBRARY MATERIALS BY MINORS
The Library staff and trustees are charged with the responsibility of providing free and equal access to Library materials and services to all eligible people. Moreover, it is impossible for them to know or predict the opinions of parents and guardians regarding the specific borrowing selections made by minor children.
It is the policy of the Bethel Public Library that parents or guardians, not the Library staff or trustees, are responsible for monitoring and approving the selection of materials made by minor children. It is the parents or guardians – and only these – who may restrict their children – and only their children – from borrowing specific Library materials. Parents or guardians who wish their children not to have access to certain materials should accompany or otherwise advise their children. The Library staff and trustees cannot and do not act in loco parentis.
SECTION 12: QUANTITY LIMITATIONS
Nonfiction books: No more than 2 children’s nonfiction books on the same topic per cardholder at one time, at the discretion of the Children’s Services Librarian … whenever such items are widely required in connection with school assignments or other special purposes.
Children’s holiday books: No more than 2 per cardholder at one time during the appropriate season, at the discretion of the Children’s Services Librarian, based on demand.
Audio books: No more than 3 children’s titles per cardholder at one time.
CD-ROM’s: No more than 3 children’s titles per cardholder at one time.
Books listed on the Bethel school system’s required/suggested reading lists: Limits may be placed on these books at the discretion of the Adult Services and/or the Children’s Services Librarians depending on collection inventory and demand …
SECTION 14: OVERDUE FINES AND FINE MAXIMUMS
Overdue fines are … 5 cents per day on most children’s materials. On overdue videos, dvd’s and passes to cultural sites, the fine is $1 per day …
Maximum fines per item are $5 on most materials; and $10 on reference books, videos, dvd’s and passes to cultural sites …
SECTION 15: REPLACEMENT COSTS
The minimum replacement charges for lost or damaged Library materials are as follows: …
Children’s Fiction: $15.00
Children’s Nonfiction: $25.00
Children’s Cataloged Trade Paperback (Fiction & Nonfiction): $15.00
Children’s books with accompanying audiocassette: $25.00
Children’s Reference: $30.00 …
SECTION 19: POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE, AMENDMENTS, AND REVISIONS
This policy is effective upon approval of the Library Board of Directors. Amendments and/or revisions to this policy shall be formulated and recommended to the Board by the Policy Committee. The policy may then be amended and/or revised at the regular meeting of the Board, following the meeting at which the amendment and/or revision was proposed.
| Approved by the Library Board May 22, 1979 | |
| Amended 4/30/80 Amended 6/22/81 Amended 6/28/82 Amended 5/31/83 Amended 11/4/85 Revised 10/28/86 Revised 3/23/87 |
Revised 5/23/88 Revised 11/27/89 Revised 6/22/92 Revised 5/19/97 Revised 1/25/98 Revised 4/23/01 Revised and approved 9/23/02 |
From the BORROWER REGISTRATION AND LIBRARY CARD USAGE POLICY:
SECTION 1: LIBRARY CARD ELIGIBILITY AND PRIVILEGES
The Bethel Public Library issues library cards free of charge to all residents of the town who are five years of age or older. Children under the age of five may receive their own cards provided they are able to print or write their own names …
SECTION 4: BORROWER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
A. BETHEL RESIDENTS
A Bethel resident is any person who makes the Town of Bethel, Connecticut his/her principal place of residence. …
Juvenile cards: A Bethel resident age 5 through 13 who wishes to receive a library card must complete a borrower registration form provided by the Library. A child under the age of five may receive his/her own card provided he/she is able to print or write his/her own name. A parent or legal guardian will be asked to prove identity and residency and co-sign the registration form for his/her child under the age of 14. By co-signing, the parent or legal guardian accepts responsibility for settling fines, damages, losses, or other assessments against the library card of his/her child.
NOTE: An adult card will be issued to a child age 14 or older without parental permission. However, the child’s parent or legal guardian remains responsible for all materials borrowed, as well as any and all associated fines and/or fees, on the child’s card until the child reaches the legal age of 18.
SECTION 7: USE OF LIBRARY CARDS BY CHILDREN
The Library staff and trustees are charged with the responsibility of providing free and equal access to library materials and services to all eligible people. Moreover, it is impossible for them to know or predict the opinions of parents or guardians regarding the specific borrowing selections made by minor children.
It is the policy of the Bethel Public Library that parents and guardians, not the library staff or trustees, are responsible for monitoring and approving the selection of materials made by minor children. It is the parents or guardians – and only these – who may restrict their children – and only their children – from borrowing specific library materials. Parents or guardians who wish their children not to have access to certain materials should accompany or otherwise advise their children. The Library staff and trustees cannot and do not act in loco parentis
SECTION 9: POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE, AMENDMENTS, AND REVISIONS
This policy is effective upon approval of the Library Board of Directors. Amendments and/or revisions to this policy shall be formulated and recommended to the Board by the Policy Committee. The policy may then be amended and/or revised at the regular meeting of the Board, following the meeting at which the amendment and/or revision was proposed.
Approved by the Library Board April 23, 2001
Revised and approved 9/23/02