Children of all ages are welcome to use the Marie Fleche Memorial Library. The Library encourages children to use the Library’s materials, programs, and services and every effort is made to have a pleasant, warm, and inviting library experience. The Library is an open, public building and the well-being and safety of young children left alone is a serious concern. In an effort to ensure the safety of the children and maintain an atmosphere of constructive library use, the following policy regarding appropriate use and behavior of the library by children and their caregivers has been adopted.

  • Children ages 8 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or responsible caregiver (age 13 or older) at all times. The responsible person must remain in sight of the child at all times.
  • If a child is attending a library program, the responsible person must remain in the building for the duration of the program.
  • Parents and caregivers, not library staff, are responsible for the behavior and supervision of their children in the library.
  • Children age 8 and older are generally old enough to use the library responsibly, however the staff may use discretion in dealing with children age 8 or older who are unattended in the library and not behaving properly.

If problems arise while children are using the library or if they are left alone, the library staff will attempt to reach the parents or guardian. In certain circumstances, if the parents cannot be contacted, the police will be called to ensure the safety of the child.

The library cannot be responsible for any consequences of caregivers forfeiting their responsibilities. Any youth who is unable to care for him/herself and who is left in the library without a guardian for any period of time and/or who is not picked up at closing time is considered abandoned by the library as set forth in NJSA 9:6-1.

Abandonment of a child shall consist in any of the following acts by anyone having custody or control of the child: (a) willfully forsaking a child; (b) failing to care for and keep the control and custody of a child do that the child be exposed to physical or moral risk without proper and sufficient protection….

Approved July 2015