The Williams County Public Library welcomes children to its facilities and services. However, responsibility for the behavior and well-being of children using the library rests with the parent, guardian, or assigned caregiver, not with the library’s personnel.
Library staff members cannot accept responsibility for the safety, care, or entertainment of unsupervised children in the library. Children under the age of sixteen (16) years may not be left unattended by a parent or caregiver in any part of the building.
During story times or programs, parents or caregivers who do not attend the program with the child must remain in the building and must return to the programming area by the end of the program.
If children under the age of seven (7) are found without a parent or caregiver, the staff will attempt to locate the parent or caregiver. If the parent or caregiver cannot be located either in the building or at home within one (1) hour, or if the building is closing, Job and Family Services or the local police will be contacted to pick up the child.
The public library is not a child care provider, but a public institution where all patrons have an equal right to quality library services in a safe and relaxed environment.
Approved: September 20, 2004
updated June 15, 2020