Unattended Children Under 18 Years of Age Policy

Hartford Public Library (HPL) is committed to creating supportive, safe and engaging spaces for young people in all library locations. HPL strives to provide enrichment, homework support and collections for young people who visit the Library when they are not in school. Children who visit the Library unaccompanied by an adult are expected to observe the Library’s code of conduct. Library staff members are not responsible for the care of unaccompanied children. Unaccompanied children should have contact information for a parent or guardian with them when they visit the Library unaccompanied by an adult.

In accordance with CT State Law, 53-21 a-c, children under the age of 12 should have a responsible family member or caregiver in the building while the child is using the Library. Library staff do not serve in loco parentis.

As a public institution open to many people, Library staff strongly encourages, and may require, a parent or caregiver over the age of 18 to be responsible for the safety and behavior of the minor child. Parents and caregivers are asked to remain in the immediate vicinity of their child while using the Library.

Children who are younger than 12 and unaccompanied in the Library, may be allowed to stay based upon their behavior, ratio of public to staff, and the judgement of library staff. Library staff will make every effort to contact the parents/guardians/caregivers of the child if they are asked to leave or if the child is unattended at closing.

This policy will be modified at the Boundless@Rawson and Boundless@West Middle locations as Hartford Public School protocols regarding student oversight will be in force during school hours. This policy will be in force at those times when HPL is solely responsible for Library operations in those locations.

Limits on the Number of Unattended Children

The Library’s President and Chief Executive Officer, or the President and CEO’s designee from the Leadership Team, shall have the authority to place limits on the number of unattended children under the age of 18 allowed in any single Library branch or location at one time. In establishing any such limits, the President and CEO shall consider the staffing level and available public and/or youth space of each library. These limits may be set on a temporary basis in response to events or situations and may also be set as part of regular library facility operations.

At designated times, the Library may require:

1) any child under 18 be accompanied by an adult

2) temporary or permanent limits to the number of youth under the age of 18 in the Library building or area of the Library
 

General
The Library may call upon public safety officers if a parent or guardian cannot be reached by Library staff regarding an unaccompanied child.
 

Procedure
The President and CEO shall have the discretion to create procedures to implement this policy.

Revised: February 2025
Adopted by the HPL Board of Directors: April 3, 2025

Adopted by HPL Board of Directors : December 5, 2019