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When Your Child Visits the Library
The public library offers your child excitement, knowledge, and the joy of discovery!
Library visits are an important part of a child's creative and intellectual growth. Our staff wants your child's visit to be a rewarding and positive experience that encourages a love of reading for pleasure and knowledge for a lifetime. Children visiting our libraries receive the same welcome, assistance, and respect as any other valued customer.
YOUR ROLE IN SUPERVISION
- A library is a public building, open to all. Please use the same precautions for insuring your child's safety as you would in any other public location.
- While our staff is concerned about the well-being of our customers, we cannot be responsible for keeping your child safe from harm. We must assume that all library users are able to take care of themselves OR are under the supervision of a responsible individual, such as a parent, guardian, or babysitter. In the interest of safety, the library staff requests that children who cannot work independently be supervised while in the library.
- If your child is participating in a supervised program, please remain in the building. It is important that you be available in case your child needs to leave the room.
- We also ask you to consider the rights of all library users. Small children left on their own often run, climb, and express themselves a little more loudly than other patrons appreciate. Please help us maintain an environment that allows for everyone's enjoyment by keeping your young child with you in the library.
- Library hours are posted at the entrance to each building, as well as in this brochure. Please note that we close at 6:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays at those libraries which are open Sundays.
- Parents are requested to make sure their children are picked up BEFORE closing time. The Library cannot assume responsibility for customers under age 18 who are left at the library beyond closing time.
- In the event that a child is left after hours and no one can be contacted to provide transportation, our staff will call the Newport News Police Department for assistance.
