[Publib] Re: Library Closing for "after school hours" (Abigail Goben)

[Deborah]

"  “Kids will get into real mischievous activities” with the library closed, warned one teenager..."
 
 ...and when did that become a library problem, is that a threat, and how did this library get to this sorry state anyway? This happened in my community a number of years ago and it was handled just as badly with the library refusing entrance to any child who did not have a note from a teacher or parent. This after staff was threatened, assaulted, and cars were vandalized. 
 Situations like this don't suddenly develop--they take time to build to crisis proportions and this library is in crisis. All staff is responsible in keeping the library a pleasant place and should either enforce behavior policies already in place or go back to the drawing board and develop some ASAP. Does this library have a children's policy? If not, that's a good place to start. Does the library have a relationship with the local police and do they call them when the situation gets out of hand? Does the staff know the names of the more boisterous children? Get a yearbook, identify the children, and use their names when they act out. If that fails, call parents and arrange for a conference with them--after all, they may be totally unaware that their child is acting out. Above all, document, document, document. If you don't have an incident report form, develop one and use it every time a situation arises. 
 Middle-school children are not little adults--there is going to be more noise and activity when they are on the scene. Libraries seek to serve all patrons but we have a mission too and that is not as a free alternative to day care.
  Deb Beasley



Beware the man of one book. Latin Proverb


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