[Publib] Children in the Adult Computer Center

[Alison Moss]

Our library directs that parents are responsible for their children in the 
library.  We allow parents/patrons to take a child into the adult lab if the 
child is quiet and remains at the parents' side.  Ultimately, it is a case-by-
case judgment by staff as to whether the parent is "watching" the child 
effectively and whether or not the arrangement is working for everyone 
involved, including other lab patrons.  Also, when a parent has more than one 
child with them, it gets iffy as well.

Lately we have had parents go into the glassed-in lab and leave their 
child/children at the waiting tables OUTSIDE the lab, with varying levels of 
success.  Sometimes the child waits quietly and stays in the seat as directed 
by the parent. Sometimes not. Sometimes the parent can see them from inside the 
lab.  Sometimes not.  When the children are rambunctious and staff in effect 
would wind up babysitting them, I have had parents get very huffy, because 
their opinion is often at variance with staff opinion as to what "behaving" 
is.  The kids being at risk from other patrons is also a concern.

I would be interested to hear other experience/procedures with this sort of 
situation, with the parent being close by and within vision range, but not 
necessarily sufficiently attentive to what's going on with the child.  


Quoting "Rawles-Heiser, Carolyn" <Carolyn.Rawles-Heiser at ci.corvallis.or.us>:

> We tell them they are welcome to use the children's computer area if
> they are with their child and that everyone may be more comfortable in
> that environment.    They cannot stay in the adult computer area if it
> is disruptive to other users for whatever reason.   We try not to let it
> get out of hand if there is a  lot of noise involved--we try to
> intervene as soon as we are aware of the problem.   Many of these
> parents are pretty clueless/insensitive about the effects the noise has
> on others.
> Carolyn
>  
> Carolyn Rawles-Heiser 
> Library Director 
> Corvallis--Benton County Public Library 
> 645 NW Monroe Ave. 
> Corvallis, OR  97330 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
> [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of lynlestblue at aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 11:47 AM
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Publib] Children in the Adult Computer Center
> 
> 
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> Can anyone share procedures on computer use for parents/caretakers in
> ladult computer centers?  How/when does the computer center
> attendant/librarian approach the patron with the screaming child,
> especially when the staff member has received annoying looks from other
> computer users?  
> 
> Thank you for your prompt response.
> 
> Belinda Blue
> Reference Librarian/PR Coordinator
> Dorchester County Library 
> ________________________________
> 
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> <http://www.mapquest.com/?ncid=mpqmap00030000000004> : America's #1
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-- 
Alison R. Moss
Head Reference Librarian
Tippecanoe County Public Library
627 South Street
Lafayette, IN  47901-0150
email:  amoss at tcpl.lib.in.us
telephone:  765-429-0176
FAX:  765-429-0150