These procedures enforce the library policy to ensure that the responsibility for the safety and well being of children using the facilities of the Metropolitan Library System rest with the parent/guardian or assigned caregiver, and not with the library personnel.

Procedures

If an unsupervised child becomes frightened or uneasy about his/her situation, the following steps will be taken:

1. A staff member will stay with the child until the parent/guardian or assigned caregiver can be located through questioning the child, searching library records, using the phone book, etc.
2. When the parent/guardian or assigned caregiver is located, a staff member will inform him/her of the library system's policy and he/she will be asked to either join the child at the library or pick up the child immediately.
3. If the parent/guardian or assigned caregiver is unable to come at once, a staff member will tell him/her that the child may stay this time, but that further occurrences will require a prompt response or the police may become involved.
4. If an unsupervised child's behavior endangers his/her safety or interferes with others' use of the library, the following steps will be taken:
   
   1. A staff member will advise the child to stop the behavior that is endangering his/her safety or interfering with others use of the library.
   2. If the disruptive behavior continues, a staff member will contact the child's parent/guardian or assigned caregiver and inform that person of the library system's policy concerning unsupervised children. The staff member will inform the parent/guardian/caregiver to pick up the child immediately.
   3. If the parent/guardian/assigned caregiver is unable to come at once, the staff will keep the child under close watch until the parent/guardian/assigned caregiver arrives. The parent/guardian/assigned caregiver will be informed that further occurrences will require a prompt response or the police may become involved. A staff member will warn the child and his/her parent /guardian/assigned caregiver that future incidents of poor behavior may result in eviction from the library. If the parent /guardian/assigned caregiver cannot be located and the child continues to behave in a disruptive manner, the staff will contact the police for assistance.

If the library is closing and a child has not yet been picked up, the following steps will be taken:

1. The staff will attempt to contact the child's parent/ guardian/assigned caregiver.
2. If the parent/guardian/assigned caregiver is not located, the staff will contact the police/sheriff's department and ask that someone be sent to pick up the child. One of the staff will wait for the officer to arrive. Staff members will never take a child off library property or transport the child to the police station or home.
3. After the child is picked up by the police/sheriff's department, a staff member will post a note on the building's door advising the parent/guardian/assigned caregiver of the circumstances and stating where the parent/guardian/assigned caregiver can locate the child.