Berlin Free Town Library
Children and Dependent Individuals Policy
The Berlin Free Town Library Board of Trustees has established the following policy to ensure the protection, safety, and well-being of children and any individuals not capable of functioning independently (dependent individuals).
Responsibility for Supervision of Children and Dependent Individuals
The responsibility for supervision of children and dependent individuals using the Library rests with the caregiver (parent, guardian, nanny, baby-sitter, or assigned chaperone), not with Library personnel. Caregivers must be at least 15 years of age. Library staff reserves the right to make exceptions in age restrictions on a case-by-case basis.
Caregiver Responsibility
A. Children ages 6 and under—A caregiver must stay with any child age 6 and under anywhere on Library property.
B. School-age children ages 8 and under and dependent individuals—In order to provide effective supervision, the caregiver must be within sight and sound of any child age 8 or under and or any dependent individual while using the Library. The caregiver will be responsible for ensuring that all of Berlin Free Town Library’s policies and procedures are followed.
C. Failure to Comply—Failure to comply with any Library policy or procedure may result in loss of Library privileges for the caregiver and the children or dependent individual.
Older Children
Children age 9 and older, but not dependent individuals, may use the Library without caregiver supervision.
Transportation
A. Arrangements for pickup of children age 9 and older must always be made prior to their arrival at the Library.
B. If children are not picked up by closing time, the parent(s) will be contacted, and a staff member will remain with the child for 15 minutes. If they are still waiting after 15 minutes, then the police will be called.