For Parents

Unattended Child Policy

The Medford Public Library welcomes children and strives to provide a positive atmosphere for them. We welcome children and want them to

• Learn from an abundance of stimulating library resources
• Fully experience the library without interfering with other patrons
• Feel safe in a public building

Young children left alone while at the library, even for a short time, often become frightened or anxious. Older children can become bored and disruptive when left alone in the library in lieu of appropriate after school care. The library is a public building and the staff cannot be held responsible for the safety of an unattended child, even for short periods of time.

Please safeguard your children by ensuring that there are properly supervised, and by following the policies outlined below:

1. While in the library, children aged eight or younger shall at all times be attended and adequately supervised by a responsible adult.
2. Children under the age of eight attending a library program must be brought into the building by a responsible adult who must remain in the building until the conclusion of the program when they again resume supervision of their child.
3. Children who are nine years of age or older may be unaccompanied but, as always, must obey the library’s rules of conduct. Failure to do so will result in expulsion from the building for the day.
4. Parents, not library staff, are responsible for the behavior of their children. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. This is a public building, serving the needs of people of all ages.
5. The library is not an appropriate day care alternative. Children of any age are not to be left in the building for this purpose.

Violations of this policy may result in suspension of library privileges.

Community Links

Medford Public Schools

Medford Public Schools Early Childhood Office

Medford Family Network

Family Network Newsletters

Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care

MaChildCare.com

Tufts University Child and Family Web Guide

Reading Resources for Parents

Association for Library Service to Children Great Websites for Kids

Early Literacy Resources from the American Library Association

Great Early Elementary Reads Book list

Lookybook Picture books you can read online!

Massachusetts Family Literacy Consortium

PBS Parents

Reading Rockets

Sites to Help Parents Help Their Children (Reading and other education support)

Teach a Child to Read