Parental Responsibility Policy

Parental Responsibility Policy

APPROVED: Board of Supervisors January 6, 2003

The purpose of this policy is to inform library users and staff of their responsibilities in relation to usage of the library district facilities by minor children and young adults. Upon acceptance of a library card, this policy becomes binding upon the parent, guardian, and/or caregiver to abide by all library policies pertaining to minor children and young adults’ use of library facilities and library materials.

1. When application is made to obtain a minor child a library card, the purpose of the parent, guardian/caregiver presence is to provide notification that the library is not responsible for monitoring materials checked out by children/young adults and that the parent, guardian, or caregiver is financially responsible for lost, damaged, or unreturned library materials.

2. The library will not usurp parental authority by restricting materials or services available to children. It is the prerogative of the parent or guardians to develop, interpret, and apply their code of acceptable conduct in their own families.

3. Parents are encouraged to come with their children to the library to guide them in the selection of books, use of the Internet, and other library materials. Guidance in the selection and use of library materials is the responsibility of the parent, guardian, or caregiver, not the library staff.

4. The library will not arbitrarily limit children to the use of books in the children’s section of the library, as they may not meet the needs and interests of all children. Many parents encourage their children to use items from the adult collection, which may include items that other parents would deem to be adult in nature. The library staff is not responsible for determining whether materials used by minors are “age appropriate”.

5. Responsibility for the control and safety of children in the library rests with the parent, guardian, or caregiver.

6. Children under the age of ten (10) should not be left unattended in the library. (See Mohave County Library Policy and Procedure Manual, Unattended Children Policy, Section 1204, dated September 5, 2000).

Failure to abide by library policies may result in the loss of library privileges.