Children and Youth Services Policy

• “The Board” means the Haldimand County Public Library Board.
• “The Library” means Haldimand County Public Library.
• “The County” means the Corporation of Haldimand County.
• “Children” means people between the ages of 0 and 12 years.
• “Youth” means people between the ages of 13 and 17 years.

This policy sets out the library resources offered to children and youth, as well as to their caregivers. This policy also sets out the responsibilities for the care and safety of children and youth participating in library activities.

Collections

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or designate will ensure the maintenance and organization of a comprehensive collection of materials for and about children and youth, based on the Library’s Collections Development Policy. The collections for both children and youth will reflect their changing educational needs and personal interests.

The library staff will develop the collections to include:

• Canadian authors and content;
• award-winning titles;
• non-fiction materials that complement the local school curricula;
• age-appropriate formats.

Reference and Readers' Advisory

Library staff will utilize the full range of collections, technologies and other resources to answer users’ requests for information, regardless of age and without judgment, with confidentiality and respect. Library staff will ask reference questions to understand what each patron wants and needs, pointing out the variety of resources available in all areas of the Library, as appropriate.

Programs

The Library will provide programs and activities for young people, both in and out of the Library, to stimulate creative potential and to encourage and facilitate the habit of reading, independent learning and use of library resources.

The Library will provide educational, entertaining, literacy-related programs and activities, and support for children and youth, such as:

• programs for caregivers and educators that outline the importance of early literacy for children, the role of the Library in their children’s lives, and supports the Library can offer them;
• programs for classes, youth groups, etc., depending on age, that emphasize literacy and Library orientation, and that encourage reading for leisure, or highlight various aspects of the collection.

The number of participants for programs and events may be restricted based on size of the facility, fire department limits, staff supervision available, and other factors. This will be enforced by the library staff member in charge.

Some programs or events may limit the age of participants and the number of participants per accompanying adult. This limit is enforceable by library staff members to ensure maximum benefit to the participants through personal interaction.

Library Space

The Library will provide specified areas for both children and youth that are distinct from the adult area, with signage that is clear and age-appropriate.

Children’s areas will have furniture, shelves and equipment designed for, and accessible to, children of different ages and abilities. These are intended as interactive learning spaces where controlled noise levels are accepted, and where young people are invited to explore library resources.

Staffing

The Library Board supports ongoing staff training and professional development in children and youth services. The CEO or designate will ensure that staff members assigned to resources for young people receive appropriate training to provide knowledgeable library service.

Library staff will advocate for children and youth resources in the community by:

• collaborating with agencies to promote literacy, love of reading, life-long learning and overall well-being; 
• seeking support for children and youth resources from community organizations through fundraising, donations and/or partnerships;
• communicating with local school staff;
• promoting the Library’s resources to groups who could benefit from them.

While library staff will assist young people with finding materials, using the Internet or participating in activities, caregivers are responsible for their children and their use of library resources at all times. The Library Board recommends that children up to 12 years of age are accompanied by a caregiver to ensure their physical safety and to select materials suitable to each child’s abilities and interests.

Haldimand County Public Library staff recognize that young people have a right to a welcoming, respectful and supportive environment. As the Library is a busy, public place, library staff cannot assume responsibility for any child left unattended within the public facilities, or at off-site programs or events. Responsibility for the welfare and behaviour of children and youth rests entirely with their caregiver(s).

Responsibilities of the Caregiver

The Library is guided by the terms in the Ontario Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) with regards to unattended children:

• Section 136 (3) “Leaving child unattended (3) No person having charge of a child younger than 16 shall leave the child without making provision for the child’s supervision and care that is reasonable in the circumstances.”

At Haldimand County Public Library, caregivers are responsible for monitoring the behaviour of, and the use of resources by, all children in their care.

• Children ages 12 years old and older may use the Library independently on a regular basic, but caregivers are still responsible for the behavior of any children up to the age of 16 years old while they are in the Library or at off-site venues;
• Children younger than 12 years old should be accompanied by a caregiver while in the Library or at off-site events. During scheduled programs, caregivers must remain in the library building, or in the immediate vicinity at off-site venues.

Responsibilities of Library Staff

Library staff members will be guided by this policy in situations where:

• an unattended child is found frightened or distressed in the Library;
• an unattended child is perceived to be endangering themselves or others;
• another person in the Library poses a perceived threat to the unattended child;
• an unattended child exhibits disruptive behaviour;
• an unattended child is left behind at closing time.

Where a responsible adult cannot be contacted if needed, Library staff will contact local police and/or the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and remain with the child until the proper authorities take the child into their protection.

Library staff will not give information to any person regarding whether or not an individual is currently in the Library, or has been in the Library recently. In the case of a missing person, library staff will share information with the law enforcement agency requesting specific personal information, in the interest of preventing harm to the individual or others.