The Anna Porter Public Library welcomes children of all ages. Library staff strives to provide a safe and appropriate environment for all Library users. Our libraries, however, are public buildings. Any public place may be dangerous for a child who is left unattended even for brief periods of time. In addition, Library facilities are neither designed nor licensed to provide childcare. A child left alone at the Library without a responsible caregiver may become bored, fatigued or frightened and this may lead to behavior that disrupts the Library services that staff provides to them and/or others.

Parents and other caregivers are solely responsible for the welfare and the behavior of children using the Library. Additionally, children under the age of eight must be supervised by a responsible caregiver at all times while they are in the library. If a child under the age of eight (8) is found to be unattended in any are of the Library, staff will attempt to locate the child’s caregiver. If Library staff cannot find the child’s parent or caregiver, the City of Gatlinburg Police Department will be notified and asked to assume care of the child.

III. PROCEDURES An unattended child found frightened or crying, or any unattended children under age eight (8), in the Library should be approached and reassured by a staff member. Staff interacting with the child should ask the child his/her name and the name and whereabouts of his/her parent/caregiver(s). At least one other staff member should be informed that an unattended child is being assisted. When Youth Services staff is available, the unattended child should be brought to the Children’s area of the Library.

- 1. If the parent/caregiver is in the building, staff will:

(cid:0) Locate the parent/caregiver (cid:0) Upon reuniting the child with the parent/caregiver, express the Library’s concern for the welfare of children and explain the Library’s policy regarding unattended children.

- 2. If the parent/caregiver is not in the building, staff will:

(cid:0) Contact the manager/supervisor in charge of the building (cid:0) With the child’s help, obtain the parent/caregiver’s name and telephone number (cid:0) Stay with the child until parent/caregiver can be located. (cid:0) Call City of Gatlinburg Police Department and ask that they assume responsibility for the child if the parent/caregiver cannot be located or does not respond to the phone request within 30 minutes.

## After Hours Children Left Unattended

Our policy for parents regarding children not picked up at closing is as follows in the paragraph below. Staff are instructed to have everyone leave the facility at closing time, including students/children. If parents/guardians are not here to pick students up at that time, the police are to be called immediately and told that there is currently a child without a ride present. Then when closing procedures are finished, staff are to leave the premises allowing law enforcement, as they see fit, to take care of picking up or staying with that child until the parent/guardian arrives.

Thank you for sharing your children with us and allowing them to visit the library. Please be aware that once the library closes, all doors are locked, and all visitors will be required to leave the facility. There will be no staff here to supervise children under the age of 18 that have been