LIBRARY POLICIES

CHILDREN'S SERVICES POLICIES


CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT’S INTERNET POLICY 

Your child’s library card presents opportunities for many fascinating, educational and entertaining experiences, and we are pleased that  parents, are encouraging children to explore them.  The public library provides a wide variety of materials, in different formats, representing many points of view on topics of interest to the community.  All libraries provide access to some printed, audiovisual and electronic resources.  It is not  library policy to decide what ideas a child should be exposed to.  Therefore, The Library hopes parents will continue to participate in the learning process by helping their children select materials and by sharing materials in the library and at home. 

In keeping with its mission statement, the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County is committed to providing its customers with the latest advances in information and technology.  The Internet, a vast global electronic network, is one of the most significant electronic information resources available.  It offers unlimited information of every kind, both educational and recreational.

As with other library materials, parents and legal guardians who are concerned about their children’s use of the Internet should provide guidance to their own children and should monitor their use of this resource.  Only parents or guardians have the right to define what material or information is consistent with their personal and family beliefs, and only they can apply these values for themselves and their children as they use the Library’s resources.

Despite the unregulated nature of the Internet, the library acknowledges the need for children to have an age-appropriate Internet experience.  The librarians in the Children’s Area have a list of web addresses appropriate for children to access.  The sites are checked periodically. 

All computers in the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County are currently filtered which is in compliance with the Children’s Online Protection Act (CIPA) and are intended to protect children from harmful material.  Filters limit materials accessed by the user, although they do not guarantee that objectionable material will not be seen.  As with other library materials, restriction of a child’s access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.

Internet Use Guidelines

  1. Use is limited by PCReservation to three 45-minute sessions per day.
  2. The Internet computer by the Children’s Desk is restricted to use by children twelve years old (12) or younger and patrons supervising young children in the Children's Area.
  3. The computers in the Young Adult Area of the library are designated for children and teens when school is not in session.
  4. Developmentally disabled adults and their caregivers enjoy the same rights as children.

 

CHILDREN'S SAFETY POLICY

The staff of the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County Library is pleased to welcome children to the Library. We hope that children who use the Library will perceive it as a fun place to be.

A top priority is the provision of a safe environment for all children. However, the responsibility for the safety and well-being of the children using the Library rests with the parents/guardians or assigned chaperones, and not with library staff.

It is not safe to leave children unattended in the Library. Children who are left on their own become bored, restless, and disturb others. This may lead to disruptive behavior. Disruptive behavior will prompt corrective action from the staff, and this creates a negative rather than a positive library experience.

For the protection and well being of the many children who enjoy the public library, the following policy has been established:

 

UNATTENDED CHILD POLICY

The staff of the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County Library are pleased to welcome children to the Library. We hope that children who use the Library will perceive it as a fun place to be.

A top library priority is the provision of a safe environment for all children. However, the responsibility for the safety and well-being of the children using the Library rests with the parents/guardians or assigned chaperones, and not with library staff.

It is not safe to leave children unattended in the Library. Children left on their own become bored, restless, and disturb others. Disruptive behavior will prompt corrective action from the staff, and this creates a negative rather than a positive library experience.

For the protection and well-being of the many children who enjoy our library, the following policy has been established.

  1. Children under the age of 9 may not be left unattended at the Library. They must be accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older.
  2. Parents of children attending library programs are strongly encouraged to remain in the Library. Due to unexpected circumstances, programs may end before or after the posted time. Children attending programs can be supervised by library staff only during the program.
  3. The Library welcomes groups to meet with their children in the Great Plains Room. However, each group is responsible for the behavior of their children. Children under the age of 9 must remain with their parents in the Great Plains Room. Older children may use the Children's Section. A carton of books and toys is available in the children's section to use in the Great Plains Room to entertain children.

UNATTENDED CHILDREN AT CLOSING TIME:

  1. Parents must pick up their children before closing time.
  2. If parents cannot be located by closing time, the police will be called to pick up the child.
  3. If parents have been contacted and are "ON THE WAY", staff will remain with the child up to fifteen minutes after closing time. After fifteen minutes, the police will be notified.
  4. If the child has been picked up by the police, a staff member will post a note on the door advising the parent of the circumstances and stating where the parent/guardian can locate the child.

MEETING ROOM POLICY

The Great Plains Room at the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County is used by the Library to extend and promote Library services and programs. Community non-profit organizations are also encouraged to use the room for educational, or civic purposes. The room is available to all non-profit organizations, which are compliant with state and federal statutes, on as equitable a basis as possible, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of those organizations requesting use.

Applications are available at the Circulation Desk of the Library or online.