What You Should Know If Your Children Spend Time at the Library Without You

You are responsible for the safety, behavior, and supervision of your children at all times in the Library and on Library property.

The Library offers a range of informational, educational and recreational services for children. However, we do not provide childcare. Staff cannot monitor the whereabouts or behavior of your children, nor can it guarantee your child’s safety. If left unattended, your child could become ill; could wander outside; be approached by a stranger; or an emergency could dictate that the library be evacuated.

The Library is a heavily used public facility. Unsupervised children can be at risk. Library policy requires that an adult or caregiver attend children under the age of 7 at all times. The caregiver should be at least 12 years old. The maturity level and attention span of children varies; keep this in mind when asking a child to be responsible for a younger sibling.

Library visitors who break the rules are given a clear warning. If the misbehavior continues they are asked to leave the building for the remainder of the day or longer depending on the offense. When possible, library staff will phone the parent or guardian to let them know about the problem. In this case, parents or guardians are expected to pick up the child immediately.

• Unattended children are excessively disruptive;
• Children are left alone for a long period of time and appear in distress ;
• A child demonstrating a serious behavior problem will not or cannot leave;
• Children are deemed at risk of coming to harm;
• Children under 12 are left unattended at the library after closing hours.

The Internet offers kids many opportunities for learning, constructive entertainment, and personal growth. At the same time, you may be concerned about the risks kids face online. The challenge for parents is to educate themselves and their children about how to use the Internet safely. The Library offers both print and online resources that can help. Check out these links to great sites families can visit together. Internet access is filtered on all library computers. Ask a staff person for assistance or check out the Library’s website.

Thank you! Your cooperation helps protect your children and gives us peace of mind at the end of our busy day.

The Library can be a very busy place that is used by hundreds of people every day. We are especially busy after school and are glad that so many young people use the Library. We want children to use the Library and strive to make it a welcoming and safe place for you and your children.

Please take a few moments to go over the safety and behavior rules of the Library with your children to ensure that their experience at the Library is a positive and safe one.

• Review the information in this brochure with your child.
• If you have dropped your children off at the Library you should make clear arrangements with them about when and where you will pick them up before the Library closes.
• Be aware of the Library’s opening and closing times. Please note that many of our branches have different hours of operation and that we may observe holidays that public school does not.
• Consider whether your children are old enough and mature enough to care for themselves and/or younger siblings.
• Make sure your children know emergency contact information, as well as their full names, phone number, and address.
• Discuss basic safety rules with children, especially stranger danger. Make sure your child is familiar with your family’s own safety rules, such as don’t talk to strange adults or older children; don’t use the Internet; ask the library staff if you need help, and so on.
• Make sure your child has what he/she needs while in the Library, supplies to do homework, etc.
• Your child should understand your guidelines about which library materials he or she may check out and any limitations you have placed on them.
• Introduce your child to Library staff.

Because so many people use the library, it is important to have a clear, common understanding of appropriate behavior when visiting the Library. This will ensure that everyone can do so in a comfortable and safe environment. The essential behavior while using the Solano County libraries is to be considerate of others.

The Library’s Behavior Policy applies to everyone. These are some of the rules most relevant to young people’s use of the library:

• Eating is not allowed in the Library but drinks in covered containers are ok.
• Skates or rollerblades may not be worn in the Library.
• Bicycles may not be brought inside the building.
• Shirts and shoes must be worn on library grounds.
• Unauthorized use of another person’s library card is not allowed for any reason, including to check out material or to log on to a computer.
• No one may use a library computer to access offensive, disturbing or inappropriate Internet sites.

• Playing games that disturb others.
• Listening to personal music/movie players at a volume that disturbs others.
• Disturbing others by talking loudly on a cell phone.
• Jumping on furniture and standing or sitting on table or counter tops.
• Disruptive behavior, such as yelling, fighting or speaking loudly, that interferes with others ability to use the Library.