Children’s Room Policies

Hours

The Children’s Room closes 15 minutes before the rest of the library.

Unaccompanied Children Under Ten
For the safety of our children and the comfort of all of our patrons, the Swampscott Public Library strives to create a warm, inviting, fun and safe environment for children. We offer many programs and services that encourage children to develop a love of books, reading and learning. The safety and well being of children at the library is a serious concern, therefore the library maintains this policy:

1. All children under the age of 10 must have an adult or a responsible person 14 years or older with them at all times while they are anywhere in the Library.
2. No library staff member is authorized to accept responsibility for the supervision or care for any minor child left alone or unattended at the Library at any time.
3. No child under the age of 8 will be allowed on the computers without a caregiver seated with them.

All Minor Children
1. Parents or guardians should be responsible for having their children picked up by the time or before the Library is closed
2. Should it be determined that a child under age 14 has been left at the Library at closing time, every attempt will be made to contact the child’s parents or other family member. The Swampscott Police will be called if no one can be reached. Staff members will remain after hours with an unattended child until the parent, guardian, caretaker, or police arrive.
3. Staff members staying with the child will be compensated for time spent waiting, by the town.
4. Staff members should fill out an incident report and leave it for the director when the police are called.
5. Library staff members will not transport children from the Library to any other location.
6. Parents, guardians, or caretakers who violate the rules stated above risk having their library privileges restricted or revoked.

Approved by Board of Trustees on May, 2023.

Unaccompanied Adults

The children’s area of the Library is reserved for children, their parents or responsible adult caregivers, and adults interested in children’s literature, such as teachers and college students taking children’s literature classes. Out of concern for the safety of young patrons, adults who are unaccompanied by a child or children in the children’s area of the Library may be questioned by staff, and may be asked to move to another area of the Library.

Computer Access
The Children’s Room has three computers available for use by children. All computers connect to the library catalog and all of the computers are connected to a black and white laser printer. The first two pages printed are free, and each additional page is $.25 each.

Parent Computer.
The Children’s Room also has a special computer with internet access for parents who are accompanied by a child.