Lexington Public Library

Safe Child Policy

The Lexington Public Library encourages visits by children, and wishes to make these visits both memorable and enjoyable. The Library recognizes that children have special needs. This policy emphasizes the fact that ultimate responsibility for children’s health, safety, and behavior in the Library’s environment resides with the parent or guardian.

When children are left alone, they may become frightened or anxious. If they wander through Library facilities, they may encounter situations they cannot handle. They may not understand that a library environment  requires behavior which allows all persons to use the facilities comfortably. Therefore, the Lexington Public Library asks children,  parents, and guardians to observe these rules.

 

  • All children, regardless of age, are expected to follow the Library’s Customer Responsibilities Procedure.
  • Library staff do not and cannot supervise unattended children and cannot assume responsibility for their safety and behavior.
  • Running, throwing any object, hitting and noisy playing are not allowed.
  • Children unable to be alone in a public place safely must be directly attended by a responsible adult caregiver.
  • The Lexington Public Library recommends that a responsible caregiver accompany all children, ages 14 and younger, whenever they use the Library.
  • Staff members who find a child alone will try to identify and contact the child’s attending caregiver.
  • Any child who is not able to leave the Library alone should not be at the Library alone.
  • The person in charge of the location and one other staff member will remain with children who are alone on Library premises at the time of closing until an appropriate caregiver arrives to take responsibility for them. Fifteen minutes after closing, police may be called to assume responsibility for the child.

 

Persons who violate these rules will be asked to leave the Library. Those refusing to leave will be subject to arrest under trespass laws of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 381, Section 231 and Chapter 511, Sections 060, 070, or 080.