Library Policy on Unattended Children

Eglin Base Library establishes the following policy for youth supervision in the library facility and on library grounds. This policy is based on guidelines established in AAC Instruction 40-301. The intent of the policy is to provide a safe and pleasant library experience for all users.

Children under the age of 7
· Parent, guardian or responsible caregiver must provide immediate “line of sight” supervision for children less than 7 years of age.
· Children under the age of 7 may not be unsupervised in any area of the library.
· Children under the age of 12 may not act as responsible caregiver for younger children.
· Children ages 5 to 7 who are involved in a supervised library program may be considered under the care of a librarian for the duration of the program only. Parent, guardian or responsible caregiver must remain in the library building during the program and be present to collect the child when the program concludes.

Children ages 7 to 12
· “Line of sight” supervision is not required for children ages 7 to 12 provided a caregiver age 12 or older is present in the building and assumes responsibility for the child’s conduct.
· Children under the age of 12 may not act as supervisor for younger children.
· Children ages 7 to 12 may be left under the supervision of a librarian for the duration of a library program. Responsible caregiver is not required to remain in the building during the program but must be present to collect the child when the program concludes. Caregiver must be accessible by cell phone during absence from the building.

Children ages 12 and older
· Children over age 12 may be unattended in the library but must demonstrate appropriate behavior for safety, courtesy and proper library usage as determined by the librarian.
· Library assumes no responsibility to ensure children do not leave the library by themselves or with an unauthorized person.
· Children must carry military-issue identification and present it upon request by librarian.
· Parents or caregiver must be available for immediate contact anytime their children are present in library. Children must know where their parents are and how to contact them.
· Parents will be notified of misbehavior and must assume responsibility for child’s conduct by collecting the child. If parents cannot be reached, child will be escorted to Security Police to await parent’s return.

LIBRARY IS NOT TO BE USED AS A CHILDCARE SERVICE. Children may not be routinely dropped off in the morning and picked up after work. Parents who regularly leave children unattended more than 4 hours per day are considered to be violating the policy.

CHILDREN UNATTENDED WHEN LIBRARY CLOSES
Library has no responsibility to contact parent or try to arrange transportation for unattended children at closing time. It is the responsibility of parent or guardian to know the closing time of the library and collect children at least 5 minutes prior to closing. Children unattended at closing time will be escorted to the 96 SFS office to await collection by parent or guardian.