The Fort Wayne News Sentinel Looks At the staffers at the Allen County Public Library who are expressing concerns for the safety of children left alone, sometimes even without a way to get home.
Security staff recorded an estimated 81 incidences last year systemwide in which a child was left unattended for several hours or was at the library at closing time without a parent or a way home. John Hidy, security services manager for the library system, said, to his recollection, that represents a slight increase from previous years though he doesn’t have any numbers before 2005.
The library branch is a great resource, but as with any public place, predators can hang out,he said. We’re very fortunate that we haven’t had any serious incidents.
A simple solution
We used to have this problem. Now every time it happens we call the police. The number one excuse from the parents: “I was dropping them off while I ran to Walmart.” Funny the police don’t think thats a good excuse. Better luck with child welfare.
Don’t they have cops?
Leave a child too young to be left alone at my library and I call the cops.
Seems black and white to me. I am not a baby sitter, I am not a social worker, I am not a child protective services worker, I am not a police officer.
I am a librarian and leaving your kid with me is abandonment. Don’t do it or I’ll call the police.
Being at the Library equals breaking the law?
So, for all those kids who have the police called on them when they have been left at the library, how will they think of the library ever after?
Yes, parents should not leave their kids and we need to educate the parents as to why that is a bad idea, but calling the police should surely be the last resource, not the first. It doesn’t matter if you are making a point with the parents, the children will inevitably believe it is their fault.
A missed opportunity
Okay, so libraries are not day care centers, but maybe there should be a day care center at the library and extra staff hired for that purpose… yes…an preteen and teen dedicated staff too…
Yes, I know all the regulatory requirements and hassles of parents who don’t show up before the library closes to pick up their progeny might get difficult…and caring for all the sick kids…
But still…considering what most parents pay for day care…the library could use this a both a revenue generating source and an opportunity to get a new generation of kids enthusiastic about libraries….
If done right it could be a win win situation for all.
Re:A missed opportunity
I think you’re kind of missing the whole point of parents dropping their kids off at the library: IT’S FREE. If these parents are leaving their children unattended at the library, then they either can’t afford to pay for child care or are to freakin’ cheap to pay for it. Having it at the library for pay will not work, not for the problem folks. Yeah, sure you could stuff these kids into the daycare but then how do you get the money from the parents? This would end up being unfair to the daycare providers, too.
An interesting idea but not a practical solution. I’m with the whole “call the cops” thing, personally. There are some days/some kids that I wish I could call the cops on…but that whole “supervision” thing is written into my contract.
s/