Children's Use Policy

Children’s Use Policy: 

The Gustavus Public Library welcomes children to use its facilities and services. The following are rules regarding the use of the library by children:

• Library staff and volunteers are not responsible for the supervision, safety and well-being, or behavior management of children in the library and on library property. This includes during regular library hours, special events, and when the library is closed. 
• All patrons, including children, are expected to behave appropriately in the library and will be asked to leave if they are unable to follow library expectations.
• Children must be appropriately supervised while using the library or attending library programs.
• All patrons, including children, are free to enter and leave the library at will, and library staff and volunteers will not supervise or monitor children who are entering and leaving the library building. If a parent/guardian is uncomfortable with their child leaving the library unattended, then the parent/guardian needs to be present and supervising the child at all times while their child is in the library, or assign another appropriate caregiver to supervise the child in their stead. A library staff member or volunteer is never an appropriate person to supervise an unattended child and will not be allowed to act as such, and if asked will decline to do so.  
• All patrons, including unattended children, will be asked to leave promptly when the library closes, and it is up to parents or guardians to ensure that children are supervised and transported home when leaving the library.
• Library staff and volunteers are under no circumstances responsible for transporting children away from the library. 
• Library staff and volunteers may assume responsibility for the supervision, safety, and well-being or behavior management of children, with written guardian consent, for a special posted event, for a specific timeframe (e.g. day camp).
• If a child has unacceptable behavior, or is asked to leave the library due to behavior issues, an attempt will be made by library staff to contact the guardians, but if attempts are unsuccessful, library staff may contact other appropriate authorities if deemed necessary. 
• In the event of the library closing and unattended children are present, an attempt will be made to contact the guardians if circumstances warrant the need (e.g. darkness, unsafe weather). If attempts are unsuccessful, library staff may contact other appropriate authorities if deemed necessary. 
• Library staff and volunteers are not responsible for monitoring or restricting children’s access to content via materials or internet. It is solely the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure that children are accessing appropriate content while in the library as well as the content of materials borrowed from the library.
• In accordance with Alaska Statute 40.25.140, the Gustavus Public Library is unable to disclose personally identifying information about any of our patrons, including children, who have used materials made available to the public by a library, except under court order. If a parent/guardian would like to access information about their child (including a list of materials checked out under the child’s name), the child must be present to consent to this information being disclosed.