3.40 - Unattended Children

Caregivers (parents, guardians, or assigned caregivers) are responsible for the welfare and the behavior of children using the library. Though staff will always respond with care and concern, the library is not responsible for the safety, comfort, and behavior of unattended children. The library does not have the right to act in loco parentis (in place of the parent). “Caregiver” is defined as a person aged 13 years or older.

  1. Guidelines for Supervision
    1. No child under the age of 11 shall be left unattended without the supervision of their caregivers.
      1. Children under age 6 must be accompanied and supervised by their caregiver. 
      2. Children between the ages of 6 and 8 must have a caregiver on the same level of the library.
      3. Children between the ages of 9 and 10 years must have a caregiver in the library building.
      4. Children aged 11 and 12 years do not need a caregiver in the building, but cannot act as a caregiver.
  2. Programs: Scheduled library programs will specify when an adult must accompany a child to a program. Caregivers under the age of 18 are not considered adults and cannot accompany the child in lieu of an adult.
    1. If the adult is not required to remain with the child in the program, the above stated Guidelines for Supervision apply.
  3. When a child is discovered to be unattended, library staff on duty are instructed to:
    1. Attempt to locate the caregiver in the library and explain the Unattended Children Policy.
    2. Attempt to contact a caregiver to retrieve the child if they are not on-site.
    3. Call the Royal Oak Police to take charge of the child if a caregiver cannot be located within 30 minutes.
    4. Assist any unattended child in contacting their caregivers at least 15 minutes before closing time. 
    5. Notify Royal Oak Police if a child is unattended at closing. Two library employees must remain until the police have retrieved the child.
    6. Document the above with an Incident Report.
  4. Library staff cannot transport or otherwise accompany any unattended child outside of the building.
  5. Library Violations and Appeal: Repeated violations of the Policy may result in the suspension of library privileges. The provisions of Policy 3.70 Library Violations and Appeal will apply.

Adopted 10/24/06. Reaffirmed 05/27/08; reaffirmed 05/24/11; revised 05/27/24; revised 05/24/16; revised 05/28/24.