Unattended Children Policy

PURPOSE: The Kitchener Public Library welcomes children of all ages to use its facilities and services. However, library staff cannot assume responsibility for the safety and well-being of children left unattended in the building. In an effort to ensure their safety and well-being within a public facility and to maintain an atmosphere of appropriate library use, the following policy has been adopted.

POLICY:

• Responsibility for the welfare and the behaviour of children using the library ultimately rests with the parent/guardian or an assigned caregiver.

• The library is governed by the terms in the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA) with regards to supervision of children. Specifically:

Section 79(3) “No person having charge of a child less than 16 years of age shall leave the child without making provision for his or her supervision and care that is reasonable in the circumstances.”

Section 79(4) “Where a person is charged with contravening Subsection (3) and the child is less than 10 years of age, the onus of establishing that the person made provision for the child’s supervision and care that was reasonable in the circumstances rests with the person.”

• Children nine (9) years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult while in the Library.

• Children under the age of five (5) attending programs must remain in the eyesight of their parents or, if in the confines of a room during a scheduled program, may be supervised by the library staff only during the scheduled time of the program.

• A child age nine (9) and under who wishes to leave the library cannot be detained by staff.

• If a minor is left at the library at closing time, emergency closings or in the event of an emergency situation the staff person in charge will attempt to contact the parents or adult caregivers. If the parent or adult caregivers cannot be contacted, staff will notify the police. Staff will remain with the child until the police arrive. Under no circumstances will library staff transport or take the child away from the library building.