[Publib] Adults in children's area

[subs itoors]

Nobody says it is your responsibility, and there is no need to shout.  
And how do you get to websites and library materials from this  
conversation?

There is something in the law called "Duty of Care" and no-one--not  
even you--can opt out of it.

What that law says, is that despite anyone signing a waiver, despite  
any responsibility guidelines, a person in charge of something has a  
duty to care for the people under their charge.

In this case, that means that if you as a librarian do not wish to  
help provide for the fundamental safety of the kids, you should not be  
working in the children's library section.

it is most definitely not a day care center. However, it IS A PUBLIC  
SPACE  that is designed for children, and with that in mind,

As for IN LOCO PARENTIS, that means in the place of the parent. Nobody  
expects you to take on the role of the parent, and if they do and  
treat your children's area as a drop off play area, then it is in fact  
your responsibility to talk to the parent and alert them to the  
library's policy of not allowing unattended children. BECAUSE, if you  
do not, and if it is found by a court of law that you regularly acted  
in a In Loco Parentis fashion, it can easily be argued that you had a  
duty of care beyond just being a librarian--and you can be sued both  
personally and as a representative of the organization.

It is so so sad there are so many people on this list that either have  
so many irresponsible parent patrons, or feel so strongly against  
doing their part to create a more secure enviroment for children in  
their public space.

There was a time when a librarian was a trusted mentor and friend who  
knew the kids coming in and actually cared what happened to them.

I see in some cases clearly they'd rather simply take responsibility  
for books than for helping future generations...


On Jan 31, 2008, at 1:10 PM, Sue Kamm wrote:

>
>>
>> I don't have kids, but why is it "almost impossible" for a parent to
>> watch their child in the library?  Having worked in public  
>> libraries, I
>> know it is indeed the case a lot of times for parents to let their  
>> kids
>> run loose or, even better, drop them off alone for a few hours.   
>> But I
>> was always bothered by that and wondered why the parents wouldn't  
>> want
>> to keep an eye on them, especially since you have pointed out what a
>> horrible, dangerous world it is out there.  I wish more parents would
>> understand the library is not necessarily a "secure public space"  
>> or a
>> babysitter.  Ultimate responsibility for protecting children lies  
>> with
>> their parents, not the library.  Again, I don't have kids so it's  
>> very
>> possible I'm not getting it, but that's my perception.
>>
> There have been episodes of child molestation, kidnapping, and  
> murder when the victim was in the library.
>
> We need to state loudly and firmly that THE LIBRARY IS  NOT A  
> DAYCARE CENTER!  WE DO NOT ACT IN LOCO PARENTIS!  IF YOU ARE  
> CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILD IN THE LIBRARY, IT IS  
> *YOUR* RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR YOUR CHILD'S CHOICE OF WEBSITES OR  
> LIBRARY MATERIALS - NOT OURS.
>
>
>
> Your friendly CyberGoddess and Councilor-at-large,
> Sue Kamm
> Inglewood/Los Angeles, CA
> Truest of the Blue, Los Angeles Dodgers Think Blue Week 2000
> Visit my blog:  http://suekamm.blogspot.com
> email:  suekamm [at] mindspring.com
> "I'm not comfortable being preachy, but more people need to start  
> spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball  
> court."– Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
>