| Young Persons in the Library Policy |
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| Young persons are core clients of public libraries. Over 31% of Upper Hunter's registered library users are under the age of 18. The contemporary public library offers a wide variety of services to young persons and as these services evolve, it is important to convey clear and consistent messages about the role and scope of public libraries in young persons' lives. |
| This policy is based on the NSW Public Library Children's Policy Guidelines, developed by the NSW State Library to encourage uniformity and consistency in policy formation across NSW public libraries. The policy is to be used in conjunction with Council's Child Protection Policy and is designed to provide a clear understanding of library Services' Policies and Procedures with regard to the issues of duty of care, discipline, supervision, parent/guardian responsibilities and safety of children visiting Upper Hunter Regional Library. |
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| For the purposes of this document, the definition of young person, children and young adults as articulated in the ALIA Statement on public library services to young people in Australia will be used: |
| This policy is based on the NSW Public Library Children's Policy Guidelines, developed by the NSW State Library to encourage uniformity and consistency in policy formation across NSW public libraries. The policy is to be used in conjunction with Council's Child Protection Policy and is designed to provide a clear understanding of library Services' Policies and Procedures with regard to the issues of duty of care, discipline, supervision, parent/guardian responsibilities and safety of children visiting Upper Hunter Regional Library. |
This is in line with the Library's membership for Juniors and Teenagers.
It should be noted under the Children's and Young Person's Act (Care and Protection) 1998 a child is under 16 years and a young person is 16 to 18 years and in relevant situations these definitions will apply. |
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Public libraries acknowledge the democratic rights of individuals to freely pursue their own information interests. This view is articulated in the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto, which states that "constructive participation and the development of democracy depend on satisfactory education as well as on free and unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information".
Similarly, the ALIA Statement on Free access to Information states "that freedom can be protected in a democratic society only if its citizens have access to information and ideas through books and other sources of information". |
| This Statement also states "A librarian should uphold the right of all Australians to have access to library services and materials and should not discriminate against users on the grounds of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, disability, economic condition, individual lifestyle or political or social views." |
| The ALIA Statement on Public Library Services to Young People in Australia further states, "that all young people should have access to free public library services which provide materials and resources to meet their informational and recreational needs". |
| Public library services to young persons are underpinned by these philosophies. |
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| Library staff welcome all young persons to all Branches of the Upper Hunter Regional Library, and are happy to assist them in the use of resources and services. Our Mission is to provide a readily available and accessible Library Service to meet the recreation and information needs of the residents of the Upper Hunter. To achieve this aim, staff strive to create an atmosphere that is comfortable and enjoyable for all customers. We are committed to serving the information and recreation needs of young persons in the Upper Hunter. |
| Young persons are core public library clients in their own right, and are potentially the future adult users of public libraries. Therefore it is important that the messages conveyed to young users are positive and welcoming. |
| Accordingly, a summary of this policy will be distributed to all young persons and their parents/guardians when they register as library members together with a copy of the following Charter. The summary will begin with a statement making it clear that young people are welcome in the Library. |
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| Young persons in the Library have the right to: |
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Intellectual freedom
Equal access to the full range of services and materials.
A full range of materials, services and programs specifically designed and developed to meet their needs.
Adequate funding for collections and services related to population, use and local community needs.
A library environment that complements their physical and developmental stages.
Staff trained and knowledgeable in youth and children's services.
Welcoming, respectful, supportive service from birth through the transition to adult user.
An advocate who will speak on their behalf to the council and community to make people aware of the goals of youth and children's services.
Library policies written to include the needs of the child.
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| Upper Hunter Regional Library's services to young persons include: |
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Comprehensive lending and reference collections including books, music CD's, CD ROMs, videos and magazines.
Computer services - Internet access including e-mail and chat lines, computer games, word processing and printing
Pre-school story times.
Holiday activities and story times, catering for a wide range of ages and interests.
Special events and performances.
Assistance from staff in accessing collections and information.
Homework help
Space for study
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| Library collections are available to all Library users without restriction. It is not the responsibility of the Upper Hunter Regional Library or its staff to exercise a supervisory or restrictive role in determining which library resources young persons may use or access. Parents/guardians are encouraged to set their own family rules in consultation with their child. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to monitor young person's selection and use of library resources. |
| Upper Hunter Regional Library exercises no limitation on access to publications classified Unrestricted under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995. The Library has no censorship role in its choice of library resources that form the collection. |
| Upper Hunter Regional Library protects the public's right to know, and does not monitor or control the content of materials offered through the Internet. Parents/Guardians are responsible for their child's use of the Internet, in line with the Library's Internet Policy. |
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| The Library offers a range of services that support the information, literacy, education and recreation needs of young persons. The Library does not provide childcare. Libraries are not a substitute for childcare agencies, and any parent/guardian who uses libraries as such is putting their child at risk. Libraries do not have the facilities or appropriate licences to attend to young persons who are sick, injured or hungry. |
| Council ensures that the Library is safe for young persons from an occupational health and safety point of view, and the library staff take reasonable care to ensure that the Library is safe and welcoming for all library users. Responsibility for a young person's use of the Library, however, lies with parents/carers at all times. |
| Unsupervised young persons can be at risk in any public place, including public libraries. Except for specified activities, Library staff do not supervise young persons in the Library, so there is a risk that unattended young persons may leave the library at any time, hurt themselves, or be approached by strangers. Libraries are busy public places, open to all, and staff cannot judge which members of the public present a possible danger to young persons. |
| Young children left alone in a library can become distressed, bored or disruptive. Library users, including young people, who disturb other library users, may be removed from the library under the Library Act 1939. |
| Any young person left unattended in a public library may be classed as a child or young person at risk of harm under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, s23, and subsequently may be reported as such to the Department of Community Services under s24 or s27 of the Act. |
| Parents who leave a child unattended in a public library are exposing their child to potential harm, and may themselves be committing an offence under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, s228. |
| There is no law that specifies a minimum age at which children may be left unattended in public places. The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 is concerned with individual circumstances rather than age. |
| This approach is practical for public libraries. For example, 7 year old children who use the Library constructively on their own for an hour every day after school while waiting for parents are unlikely to be considered a problem, and are indeed welcome clients. On the other hand, a 10-year-old child who is left at the Library every day of the summer holidays from opening time until closing time is at risk, and represents an unreasonable burden for the public library. |
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| Our aim is to produce a safe, enjoyable experience for all children who attend the library. Staff will always provide a duty of care, but cannot supervise children whilst carrying out work responsibilities. They are unable to provide the necessary degree of supervision desirable for young children. This remains at all times with the carer/guardian. |
| If library staff consider children are at risk because they have been left in the library for a long period of time or they have been observed being left unattended at the library on a regular basis, these procedures will be followed: |
| Procedures: |
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The parents/guardians will be contacted in person or by telephone. The parents/guardians will be advised that under current legislation it is illegal to leave children inappropriately without supervision.
In the event of children continually being left after verbal discussions a letter will be sent to the parents/guardians outlining the Libraries' policy.
If the parents/guardians ignore this policy or are not able to be contacted, the situations will be reported to DOCS.
In situations where the children need to be collected from the Library and the parents/guardians cannot be contacted the police may be contacted.
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| School aged young people (between the ages of 6 to 15 years) may be in the Library during school hours for a number of reasons. Before taking any action library staff will determine: |
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Is the young person in the company of a parent or responsible adult?
Is the young person absent from school due to illness, pupil free day or other reason?
Is the child part of a home schooling situation?
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| If it becomes apparent that the child is playing truant the school will be contacted. |
| There is no need to confront the young person, or even tell them that the school is being contacted. They will conduct a "sweep" of the premises. |
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| To protect library staff from any litigation: |
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staff members should not be alone with a child in the Library when it is not open to the public.
staff cannot attempt to drive a child to any destination.
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| If a child 10 years or under has not been collected by the Library's closing time they are at risk. Staff may also consider some older young people at risk in the same situation. In such cases these procedures will be followed: |
| Procedures: |
| Staff will attempt to contact the parent/guardian. If after 15 minutes no contact has been made staff will make a request for the Police to collect the child. Staff will wait with the child until police have arrived. The Library will be left open until the child is collected. |
| Staff will report the matter to DOCS. |
| If the Library must close in an emergency, library staff will attempt to alert parents of unattended children. If no contact can be made then the above procedures will be followed. However, rather than reporting the matter to DOCS it will probably be more appropriate to discuss the matter with the parent/guardian, using the situation as an example of the risk and undue burden of unattended children. |
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| Library staff regularly present structured activities for children. Children attending specific programs organised by the Upper Hunter Regional Library, will be supervised for the duration of the activity, with the exception of Pre School Activities. |
| At times, only one staff member conducts school holiday activities. In order to protect library staff from litigation, all activities will be in clear view of other library staff and /or the public. Carers/Guardians are not required to stay, but need to be aware that the supervision only applies to the time scheduled for the activity. As soon as the activity is completed the normal Unattended Young Person Procedures apply. |
| During Pre-School Activities, carers/guardians are required to stay with their children. Children of pre-school age are often not socialised enough for group listening, may wander away, become distressed or disrupt others. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to attend to their children in these activities. |
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| The Occupational, Health and Safety Guidelines are applicable in these situations. Staff will always ensure that sick/injured young persons are treated with care and respect and will offer assistance to sick/injured young persons |
| If a young person is injured in the Library, staff may offer the use of the first aid kit to the carer/guardian. |
| If the young person is unattended, library staff will offer assistance. Where possible a staff member holding a current first aid certificate will be called on to assist. |
| Staff are to use protection (eg: rubber gloves) to ensure that body fluids do not come into contact. |
| If a young person becomes sick, staff will: |
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Offer comfort.
Check if the young person is on medication
Contact parent/guardian if the young person is unattended.
Clean the area, using gloves
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| In the event of serious illness/injury, staff will administer first aid, call the ambulance and advise the Library Manager as well as the parent/guardian immediately. The appropriate Council should also be notified. |
Every precaution to protect own health must be strictly adhered to by all staff.
If a young person is injured in the Library an Accident Report form must be completed. |
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| (See also Public Access to the Internet Policy)
Library staff are committed to ensure all customers enjoy a productive and rewarding experience.
Customers are expected to take responsibility for the behaviour of themselves and any young person they bring into the library. |
| In the case of loud/bad language or suspected misuse of library equipment, staff will give two warnings. If the behaviour continues, the offender(s), whether adult or young person, will be asked to leave the library. |
| In the case of vandalism, consumption of alcohol, illicit drugs, sexual misconduct, offenders will be asked to leave the library immediately. Staff will attempt to establish the identity of the offenders, and the Library Manager and the police are to be informed of the incident. |
It may be necessary to take further action depending on the nature and severity of the incident. (e.g. extensive damage to Council property and resources).
To avoid litigation, at no time will staff make physical contact, gently or otherwise, to attempt to remove an offender from the library. If an offender refuses to leave when asked, the police will be called immediately. |
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