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Trustees and staff of the Wilmington Memorial Library welcome children of all ages to utilize our materials and services.  We endeavor to make the library a warm, inviting and safe place for children.

The library staff is responsible for performing library service duties and cannot be responsible for the care or safety of unattended children.   Parents are expected to accompany their children to the library and to stay with very young children during these visits. Unexpected events may occur if children are left unattended; the child may wander out of the building alone; be approached by untrustworthy people who sometimes visit public buildings; or be physically injured.  In order to create an environment of safety and maintain an atmosphere where children can enjoy all that the library offers, the following policies have been established:

Policies:

  1. Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children in the library.
  2. Children nine and under may not be left unattended in the building.
    • A child who is participating in a library program without a parent present is not considered unattended if the parent is in the building.
    • Toddlers or very young children who are left unsupervised while a parent is in another area of the building will be considered unattended.
    • Children nine and under who are dropped off at the library without a parent, guardian, or older sibling will be considered unattended.
  3. Rules regarding disruptive behavior in the Library’s Patron Behavior Policy apply to children as well.  If the child is disruptive, the child may be asked to leave the library.  The parent or guardian may be contacted.
  4. Parents should refer to the library’s “Computer Use, Internet & Wireless Network Policy for information on “Children’s Use of the Internet.”
  5. Children must be picked up before the library closes.  Once the library is closed, children cannot wait inside the building and staff is unavailable to stay with children until they are picked up.
  6. Staff may contact the Wilmington Police Department if a parent or guardian of an unattended child cannot be located.
  7. In case of medical emergency when parents are not with the child, staff will contact the Wilmington Fire Department and the parents, in that order.

Adopted by the Board of Library Trustees -10/21/08

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