Center for Information and Learning (CIL)Policy on Children in the Our Lady of the Lake College Library

Rationale: This policy attempts to strike a balance between maintaining the library as an open, accessible place of students while acknowledging the library’s responsibility to ensure that minors using the library are kept safe and do not interfere with scholarly mission of the library.  OLOL Library recognizes that minors can be legitimate users of the library and its resources, but reserves the right to take reasonable measures in regard to potential abuses of the library’s environment.  There are three reasons for establishing this policy:

• Physical Safety:  The physical safety of unsupervised children is paramount concern.
• Disruptive Behavior:  Children who are not being properly supervised by an accompanying adult can create disruptions that are detrimental to the study and research environment needed by faculty and students.
• Potential Danger:  In an academic library with materials designed for adult use, as well as unrestricted internet-accessible computers, unsupervised children have access to books, websites, and other materials that parents might deem inappropriate for their children.

Policy:

• Children under high school age may enter the library only under the supervision of a responsible adult.
• Children must stay within sight of the accompanying adult at all times and not be left unattended.
• The adult is responsible for the child’s conduct and will be asked to remove the child from the library in the case of inappropriate behavior.
• Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to, loud talking, running, abusing the library materials and equipment, and other conduct likely to disturb persons using the library for research and study.
• If problems arise, library staff will take appropriate action.  This action may include contacting parents, campus police, and/or juvenile authorities as well as physical removal or expulsion from OLOL Library.  In addition, parents of children engaging in disruptive behavior may have their library privileges revoked.

10/02/2007