SUMMARY 






Effective Date: 
Reviewed: 


POLICY 












The purpose of this document is to describe the responsibilities of parents and librarians regarding minors who are using the library. This regulation also describes the library policy on children left unattended at closing of a library facility. 

September 10, 2015
October 4, 2017
October 27, 2021
February 8, 2024

a. Parents or guardians are responsible for making sure that their children age 7 and under are attended and supervised at all times while using the library. 

b. Parents or guardians are responsible for making sure that their children age 7 and under have an actively engaged caregiver of at least 12 years of age in the immediate vicinity of and in sight of children age 7 and under. 

c. Parents, guardians, or caregivers are responsible for ensuring that children under their supervision are able to abide by Library policies, including the Patron Code of Behavior.  

d. Pursuant to ARM 20-10-10 Hours of Service, the library establishes hours of service. The library prominently publishes those hours for the benefit of library patrons. Library employees are employed to provide library service during library hours of service. Library employees are not caregivers for children at any time 

e. Parents or guardians of all children under the age of 18 are responsible for making sure that their children are prepared to leave the library when the library closes. 

f. At 45 minutes after closing, a child under the age of 12 will be treated by the library employee as abandoned and as a child in need of care, and the police will be notified and requested to take charge of an abandoned child in need of care.


g. The County Librarian may establish additional rules and guidelines for the enforcement of this regulation. 



February 8, 2024	ARM 20-10-61 	End 
 










ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS

TAB: Patron Services	DOCUMENT NUMBER: 20-10-61

SECTION: General Patron Services 

SUBJECT: UNATTENDED CHILDREN AND PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY