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RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A CHILD SAFETY POLICY
FOR THE BUTTE COUNTY LIBRARY
WHEREAS, the Butte County Library provides a welcoming environment and an array
of services dedicated to improving the lives of children; and
WHEREAS, the Library is concerned about the safety and well-being of the children who
use its facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Library wishes to ensure that the children in branch libraries are
properly supervised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of Supervisors
adopts the following Child Safety Policy for the Library.
Butte County Library Child Safety Policy
Butte County Library encourages children and families to take advantage of its services and
collections. The Library strives to provide a welcoming, safe and positive environment for all of
its users, including children. However, the Library is a public place, and caregivers should not
take children's safety in the Library for granted.
Parents, guardians or caregivers are responsible for the supervision of children in the Library.
The Library recognizes the responsibility of these responsible adults for the behavior and well-
being of their children. While library staff may give children instructions about appropriate
behavior in a library setting, the Library has no authority to act in loco parentis.
The Library respects the privacy of all library users of any age, and library staff will intervene
under this policy only when a child is deemed to be at risk. These situations include, but are not
limited to: children left unsupervised for an extended period of time; children who are ill,
injured, hungry, or afraid; children who are not picked up at closing time; and unsupervised
children in the Library when weather, power outages or other emergencies require the Library to
close earlier than usual. At any time, staff will call 911 if a child appears to need immediate
medical assistance.
While the child safety policy primarily applies to children aged twelve and under, older children
deemed to be at risk may also be covered as circumstances warrant.
During any time the Library is open, if a child is at risk and no parent or caregiver is present,
library staff will make every reasonable effort to contact an individual responsible for the child.
If no parent or caregiver can be reached, library staff will contact the local law enforcement
agency to take custody of the child.
At closing time, if staff cannot reach a responsible party, two staff members will wait with the
child for at least fifteen minutes past closing time. If a parent or caregiver still cannot be reached,
and if library staff has no reason to believe that a responsible party is en route to pick up the
child, staff will contact the local law enforcement agency to take custody of the child. If law
enforcement personnel take custody of a child, library staff may leave a note on the library door
to notify the caregiver. If a child is not picked up at closing time on more than one occasion, staff
may call law enforcement immediately rather than waiting fifteen minutes. Library staff will not
drive children home.
Any time a law enforcement agency is contacted, staff will inform the Library Director.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Butte, State of
California, on this ~~~ day of Decembe~007 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Josiassen, Kirk, Yamaguchi, and Chair Dolan
NOES: None
NOT VOTING: None
ABSENT: None
.._
Jane Dolan, Chair
Butte County Board of Supervisors
ATTEST:
C. Brian Haddix, Cbyief Administrative Officer
and Clerk of the Bo~rd-~'f Supervisors
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