Unattended Child Policy

Temple Terrace Public Library is dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment for patrons of all ages. The library staff is concerned about the welfare and safety of children. The library is not equipped, and it is not the library’s role, to provide long or short-term child care. To encourage both use and good behavior, parents are requested to do the following: 

1. Children under the age of 11 years may not be left alone in the library and must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a responsible caregiver aged at least 14 years. This age determination was made in consultation with experts in the area of child development. The caregiver must remain in the library while children are attending storytimes, puppet shows, or other library programs and reassume supervision over the child upon program completion. (If no parent or “approved caregiver” is around, the police will be notified, and the parent will be held responsible.) 

2. Code of Conduct: Any behavior not conforming to the Library “Code of Conduct”, such as talking, eating, drinking, running or other disruptive behavior will not be permitted. Such conduct can result in denial of library privileges. After a warning by library staff, children who continue to be disruptive may be asked to leave, and parents will be notified. 

3. If a child under 11 is unattended, staff will attempt to contact a caregiver. If a caregiver is contacted, this policy will be explained, and the staff in charge shall request that the child be picked up immediately. The staff member will provide the caregiver with a printed copy of this policy along with the Code of Conduct. The caregiver will also be informed that the authorities will have to be contacted if the child is left unattended again.

4. If the caregiver cannot be reached or has not arrived within 20 minutes after the library’s closing time, the appropriate authorities will be contacted.