2024 NATIONAL MEDAL
for Museum and Library Service Finalist

Youth Safety Policy

Scope

The East Brunswick Public Library (the “Library”) encourages children of all ages to visit the Library and strives to make the Library a friendly and inviting place to be. Programs and resources are offered to make the Library a fun place for children to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning. The Library, however, is a public place open to people of all ages and parents must be responsible for safeguarding and monitoring their children. Library staff may not and shall not provide long- or short- term childcare or babysitting services. Out of concern for the safety and well-being of children, the Library has created the following policy to guide parents and staff about children's use of the Library.

Definitions

Throughout this policy, the following definitions will apply:

  • "Adult” refers to any person who is 18 years of age or older and capable of self-care.
  • “Caregiver” refers to a person who is 16 years of age or older, capable of self-care, and either the child’s parent, sibling (16 or older) or designated by the parent as responsible for caring for the child.
  • “Child” or “Children” refers to any person(s) who is 12 years of age or younger.
  • “Minor” or “minor child/children” refers to any person who is less than 18 years of age.
  • “Parent” includes all biological, adoptive, step and foster parents, legal guardians, and any other persons with legal parental authority over a child or a teen.
  • “Teen” refers to any person who is 13 years of age or older but not yet 18 years old.
  • “Unattended child” refers to a child 12 years of age or younger who is (1) left alone in the Library without a caregiver in sight/sound range; or (2) left alone in the Library without a caregiver in the Library; or (3) not picked up from the Library by the time the Library closes to the public at the end of the day.
  • “Library Volunteer” refers to any unpaid individual who offers their services to the Library on an ongoing basis. Persons who come to the Library to present one-time programs or activities are not considered “Library volunteers” for purposes of this policy, regardless of whether they are compensated for their time.

Policy

Responsibility for the care, safety and behavior of children using the Library rests with the parent(s), regardless of whether the parent is present in the Library with the child.

  • Library staff cannot and should not be expected to prevent minor children from interacting with or leaving the Library with a person who is deemed not to be a parent or caregiver. Responsibility for minor children using the Library rests with the parent, not Library staff.
  • Teens 13 years of age and older may be in the Library on their own without a caregiver.
  • Children 12 years of age and younger must be accompanied and supervised by a caregiver at all times while in the Library or attending any program, which means the caregiver must be within sight or sound range of the child.
  • The Library, including the staff member conducting a children’s program, shall have the right to require a caregiver remain with the child in the same room or area in which the children’s program is being conducted. No adult, other than staff and designated volunteers, will be permitted to remain in the room or area when any children’s program is being conducted, except if accompanying a child.
  • All minor children are expected to abide by the Library Code of Conduct Policy at all times while in the Library and while participating in any Library program. Minor children who violate this policy shall be subject to appropriate remedial action and penalties, including immediate removal from the Library. The Library also reserves the right to contact the parent of any minor child who violates the Library Code of Conduct Policy or any other Library policy.
  • Parents should ensure all minor children have contact information for a responsible caregiver in case of emergencies. In the event of an emergency, Library staff will attempt to contact that child’s parent or caregiver based on whatever contact information is available.
  • Library staff will make efforts to assist minor children in need, but they cannot assume custodial responsibility for any minor child. The Library does not have an in loco parentis role or responsibility towards any minor children in the Library. Parents and other caregivers are fully responsible for their minor children’s safety, behavior, and actions while in the Library.
  • Teachers, daycare providers, or other youth leaders may not leave groups of students unattended in the Library regardless of the age of the students.
  • An individual of any age who has a medical condition that requires monitoring by another individual must not be left alone in the Library at any time. A responsible parent or other caregiver must be in attendance in the same department of the Library as the individual and must maintain an awareness of the individual’s location and activity at all times.
  • All candidates for full-time and part-time library staff positions are required to complete, and successfully pass, a background check as part of the screening process prior to receiving an offer of employment. The background check will be coordinated by the Executive Assistant to the Director.
  • All candidates to be adult library volunteers, regardless of department, are required to complete, and successfully pass, a background check as part of the screening process, prior to being approved to volunteer. The background check will be coordinated by the Executive Assistant to the Director.
  • Adult library volunteers from external organizations that perform their own background checks must provide documentation to the Executive Assistant to the Director. The Executive Assistant will verify whether the background check meets the Library’s standards. If it does not, the Library may conduct its own background check.
  • Minor library volunteers must have all work and/or school references checked that are listed on their application.
  • Minor volunteers are expected to work independently on assigned tasks and library staff will provide only general supervision and periodic check-ins on a minor volunteer’s progress and status. Minor volunteer workers are required to follow staff instructions and established Library policies and procedures.
  • The Township of East Brunswick requires the Library to follow guidance of the Municipal Excess Liability (MEL) Joint Insurance Fund, a self-insurance pool for local governments to reduce risk. All library staff and library volunteers are required to view the MEL Protecting Children Video – Public Version. This must be done annually for existing staff and for all new hires as part of their initial onboarding process. The link will be distributed to All Library Staff by the Executive Assistant to the Director at the beginning of every year.
  • As a public agency, library staff are required by law (N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10) to notify the Police and/or the New Jersey Department of Children & Family Services if there is suspected abuse or neglect of any minor. This includes, but is not limited to: mistreatment of a child; lack of proper supervision or repeatedly leaving a child unattended in the Library; predatory behavior on behalf of an adult toward a minor; or witnessing physical harm toward a minor.

Children & Teen Areas

  • The Children’s Room is reserved for children and their parents or other caregivers. Adults may use the Children’s Room to select and check out materials, assist a child with homework or projects, or when attending a program with a child, but they may not use the computers or study areas in the Children's Room.
  • Children may use the single-use bathrooms in the Children's Room either alone or, if unable to use the bathroom alone, accompanied by a parent or other caregiver. Keys to the Youth Services bathrooms will be available at the Youth Services Public Service Desk and a self-locking door handle must be in operation in the Youth Services bathrooms. Library staff are not responsible for monitoring the bathrooms.
  • The teen area is reserved for teens ages 13 through high school and their parents and other caregivers. Adults may use the teen area to select and check out materials, assist a teen with homework or projects, or when attending a program with a teen, but they may not use the computers or study areas in the teen area.

Unattended Child at Closing and at Other Times

  • The Library closes promptly at the posted closing times. Parents are responsible for ensuring their minor child is picked up from the Library prior to the Library’s scheduled closing time. Parents should be aware of the Library’s hours and keep in mind that those hours may change due to holiday schedules or unanticipated circumstances, such as power outage, inclement weather, or other emergencies. Parents should ideally arrive at the Library at least ten (10) minutes before closing time to be certain their minor child(ren) is picked up before the Library closes for the evening. Parents are expected to ensure their minor child(ren) knows what to do in the event the Library needs to close early.
  • If an unattended child remains in the library 10 minutes past closing time, Library staff will contact the East Brunswick Police Department and two (2) Library staff members will remain with the minor child until the Police arrive. Once the Police take charge of the child, the Library’s involvement with the child will end for that day.
  • During library hours, if a minor child is unattended, library staff will attempt to call or assist the minor child in calling the parent. If the parent cannot be reached, library staff will contact the East Brunswick Police Department.