Libraries arent’ meant as daycare centers and parents must be
trained that there are consequences for taking advantage of the
facilitiy and the staff in that way
The headline on a recent story detailing children left unsupervised at the Gilroy library asked a simple question: “May I borrow a sitter?”
The answer is “No.”
Reporter Christopher Quirk’s story detailed a recent incident in which two toddlers were left alone on the library’s doorstep. Quirk also interviewed two brothers, ages 10 and 12, who regularly wile away hours a day at the library without a parent to supervise them. Others tell of senior citizens suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, unable to care for themselves, abandoned for hours at public libraries.
“People sometimes think it’s an appropriate place to deposit their children no matter what the age is,” community librarian Lani Yoshimura said.
Libraries are not designed or staffed to be de facto child or adult day care centers. Taxpayers fund libraries so that citizens have wide access to vast quantities of information. To the degree that libraries and librarians are used to care for people who can’t care for themselves, that mission is diminished.
It’s not an insignificant problem, and it’s certainly not isolated to Gilroy or the library. It’s a problem, too, at recreation centers. For whatever reason, some parents and caregivers across the county and the nation are deciding that libraries are a free alternative to day care.
Librarians and recreation facility supervisors, for example, find themselves in a dilemma. But the answer isn’t assuming the responsibility for children or infirm adults.
The legal ramifications could be very costly. It’s not too far-fetched to imagine a parent claiming in court that little “Junior” was dropped off everyday at the local library and they never said anything about caring for him, so when he was abducted the library and its staff certainly are liable.
Besides the legal pitfalls, librarians shouldn’t be wasting time babysitting.
The Joint Powers Authority that runs the Santa Clara County library system should adopt a policy to address these issues. Librarians need a clear policy in place to back them up and outline the appropriate steps to thwart those intent on turning public facilities into daycare centers.
Our suggestions: Children 12 and younger and adults who require caregivers must be supervised at the library. In cases of abandoned children or infirm adults, the adults responsible should be called and must be required to arrive within a short time frame. If the parent or responsible adult can’t be reached, Protective Services should be called immediately.
Signs should be posted at all library entrances detailing the policy, fliers should be given to all library patrons, and announcements should be posted prominently on the library’s web site.
Most importantly, the policy must be enforced. Word will quickly spread that the library is no longer a place to find free babysitting.
Then librarians can get back to their jobs: Helping patrons who are asking the appropriate question: “May I borrow a book?”
