[Publib] Minimum Age for Computer Use?

[Sue Kamm]

>From a practical standpoint, if you haven't already done so, require a valid library card to use the computers.  (Our definition of valid:  Not expired, no delinquent materials, and fines or fees less than $3.)  Restrict sessions by times - half-hour increments, with the possibility of continuing the session if no one else is waiting.

The unattended children problem is a different story.  We have posted signs that say the police will be called if there are unattended children under age 8.  I don't know about anyone else, but IMNSHO, a parent or caregiver who drops off a child and expects the library staff to attend to him/her may be committing child endangerment.  

I strongly advise you to consult with your library's attorney and your local police.  Perhaps the shame of being arrested and booked, not to mention legal expenses, will deter parents from leaving their children in the library unsupervised.   

Your friendly neighborhood CyberGoddess and ALA Councilor at Large, 
Sue Kamm
Email: suekamm[at]mindspring.com
Inglewood/Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Dodgers Truest of the Blue, 2000
Visit my blog: http://suekamm.blogspot.com
Baseball Is Life...the rest is details.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Catherine Adair 
To: publib at webjunction.org
Sent: 9/4/2007 5:36:11 PM 
Subject: [Publib] Minimum Age for Computer Use?


After all of the discussion about MySpace and YouTube, I have another question about internet use in libraries.  Does anyone out there have an internet policy with a minimum age requirement for computer use?  Our current policy allows kids under the age of 18 to go online with a signed parental permission slip.  However, with the advent of Webkins, we've noticed that our clientele is getting younger and younger (sometimes two or three years old).  We're a small library, so unfortunately we don't have separate computers for kids.  We currently have only seven public computers, all of which are frequently monopolized by the under-ten crowd.

We're considering a minimum age requirement to address a few different problems.  The main issue lies with parents who leave their kids unsupervised in the computer/reference room.  I'm often the only adult in there, and if I'm off at lunch, it's unattended (I came back the other day to find a five year old completely alone in the room).  Our behavior policy covers unaccompanied children, but parents pay little attention to this no matter how often we remind them about it.  I'm particularly concerned because of how young the kids are and how casual the parents are about leaving them alone.  In this circumstance, I'm really more worried about "stranger danger" than I am about the keyboards being pounded and printer paper being wasted.  What's a librarian to do?

Is it wrong of me to consider an age restriction?  Enforcing our behavior policy (short of calling the police to report abandoned children) has proven futile.  Until we're able to afford more computers for the kids, I'm not sure what else to do.  I'd love to hear about other policies that address this issue.

Thanks for your help!

Catherine Adair Williams
Senior Librarian
Verona Public Library
Verona, NJ


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