[Publib] parent abusing child

[Gair Helfrich]

Jennifer,

In this case I don't see this as a patron privacy issue. This has nothing to do with what the patron (mother) is reading or viewing on the Internet. You're not mining your database for information about the mother, nor do I think you are invading her privacy. It has to do with physical abuse of a child that is taking place in front of your eyes and it should be reported to the proper authorities.  If you're worried about divulging her name, call the police while it's happening and report the abuse. The police can come and get her name directly from her. 

Hope this helps,
Gair Helfrich
  
__________
Gair Helfrich, MLS
Supervising Librarian
Information & Technical Services Manager
Atlantic County Library
40 Farragut Avenue
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
609-625-2776 ext. 6327  Fax: 609-625-8143
ghelfrich at aclsys.org


> -----Original Message-----
> 
> 
> 
> We had an incident (not the first) where a parent was physically
> assaulting a child-not spanking, but in one instance a punch.  In
> today's incident, the mother pulled a child along the floor by the arm
> (a bit of a distance), and then proceeded to twist the child's arm
with
> both hands.  Both of these seem a bit out of line for general
> discipline.  My personal opinion is that this is not normal behavior,
> but what is my (or my staff's) professional responsibility in this
> situation?  No one was comfortable just letting it go, but we weren't
> sure if calling the police was within bounds because of privacy issues
> (the mother is a patron).
> 
> 
> 
> My inclination is to call the police, and I'm looking into a policy
> regarding abuse, but it's a line.  We do have a detailed behavior
> manual, but it doesn't deal specifically with this issue.  I'd call
the
> police to find out what they want us to do, but I wanted to check with
> my peers about the patron privacy issue.  I've called them for
> generally disruptive persons, but not for this particular issue.
> 


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