CITY OF SCOTTSDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Unattended Children

Effective Date: 06/21/2006 | Revised: 09/16/2024; 03/17/2010 | Pol. No: CUS-5

Policy Statement:

The Scottsdale Public Library System welcomes children to use its facilities and services. The responsibility for the care, safety and behavior of children using the library rests with a child’s parent, guardian or responsible caregiver. The library respects the privacy of all library patrons and will intervene only when it deems a child to be vulnerable.

Definitions:

Unattended Child

Any person under the age of 12, in or on library property who is unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible caregiver, or left alone in one part of the library while the parent, guardian or responsible care giver is in another part of the library.

Vulnerable Child

Any unattended child whose safety or well-being could, in the reasonable discretion of library staff, be considered endangered in or on library property or if they were to leave library property.

Regulations:

1. Parents, guardians and caregivers are responsible for the safety, behavior and supervision of their children at all times in and on library property.
2. All persons including children are required to respect library property and to act in a manner appropriate to the use and function of the library in accordance with the library Rules of Conduct.
3. Children under age 12 must be supervised by a parent, guardian or responsible caregiver when in or on library property. Parents, guardians or caregivers must remain in the library while their children attend library programs.
4. Children younger than 12 who are found to be alone in or on library property may be allowed to stay depending upon their behavior, as determined by library staff.
5. In the event an unattended child is deemed vulnerable at any time by the library staff, and no one can be contacted or can be available to provide care or transportation, library staff will contact City of Scottsdale police.
6. Except in the case of an emergency or lock down, library staff will not remove an unattended child from library property.