Lake County Public Library-Child Safety Policy
The Board of Trustees of Lake County Public Library has adopted the following policy in order to provide for the safety, comfort and welfare of patrons of all ages, and to provide an atmosphere conducive to study and the appropriate use of the library’s services and facilities.
The primary purpose of the children’s area in the library is to provide a safe and comfortable place for children and their caregivers to enjoy the library together. The Library reserves the right to direct unaccompanied adults to other areas of the Library when their presence is not specifically tied to the use of materials in the youth areas.
The library is not intended or licensed to be a daycare, after school care facility, summer camp or babysitting service. The library is not responsible for the care of unattended minors.
Unattended minors who do not abide by library rules and policies, or who exhibit unacceptable behavior, will be asked to leave, and/or call their parents for a ride home. If unable to reach their parents, or if a ride is unavailable, the children may be considered abandoned and the local police department may be called.
Minors without a ride home at closing may be considered abandoned and the authorities called. Library staff are not authorized to provide transportation to children left at closing. The library is not responsible for minors without a ride home at closing.
The library believes it is the right and responsibility of a parent or guardian to determine what is appropriate material in order to meet personal family standards and guidelines. Therefore, parents are encouraged to accompany their children and to select material with their children or review their children’s selections. The library is not responsible for a minor’s selection of library materials.
In order for a child under age 18 to check out video games and DVDs, a parent or guardian must sign a permission slip in the presence of a library employee. Relatives are not able to sign for these permissions.
Parents of minor children assume responsibility for their children's use of the internet through the library's connection. In accordance with CIPA, the Library uses software to block and/or filter access to websites that contain obscene, sexually explicit, or otherwise harmful material. The library is not responsible for the content or appropriateness of any materials accessed on the Internet.
Adults who are using the Internet or other library services and programs must supervise or provide guidance and behavior control for minors accompanying them. The library reserves the right to prohibit Internet use, and/or ask the adults and minor children to leave if unacceptable behavior persists.
Library policy states that a child under the age of 18 must have a parent, guardian or relative come in to the library to get the child a library card. Only a parent or guardian is able to sign for video game or DVD permission for the child and must be done in the presence of a library employee.
The Library requires the parent or guardian of a minor child to be responsible for all overdue, lost or damaged materials and fines, fees and other debts accrued by a minor child.
The Library will release circulation records of a minor child to a parent or guardian only upon presentation of the child’s library card or card number, or if the materials are lost, damaged or overdue. The reference questions of minor children will be considered privileged information as determined by state law and professional ethics. IC 5-14-3-4(b)(16)A))
The library is not responsible for any consequences of parents forfeiting their responsibilities.