Policy

Staff must know how to calmly assist any child who has been abandoned at the library after closing. Referral to proper authorities who take responsibility for the child protects both the child and the staff member.

Procedure

1. If an adult has not arrived to pick up a child under 10 and the library is closing:
   1. At Central, call the Person in Charge (PIC) at 503.969.3839.
   2. At a branch, call the branch supervisor or PIC.
2. The PIC assumes responsibility and stays with the child after closing.  One other staff member must stay as well.  If there is more than one represented volunteer to remain with the PIC after closing, the staff member with the greatest county seniority (regardless of classification)  would stay.  If there are no represented volunteers, the staff member with the lowest county seniority would stay.
3. The PIC should do the following:
   1. Ask the child for the telephone number of an adult. If the phone is not answered, ask for names and/or telephone numbers of other adults who might come for the child. PIC may use the Symphony record to look up phone numbers if the child has a library card.
   2. If unable to reach anyone by five minutes after closing time, call the police non-emergency number (503.823.3333). A police officer will be sent for the child.
   3. Give as much information to the operator as you can: child's approximate age and general description, name, and parents' or guardians' names (mother's and father's last names, if different).
   4. Stay with the child until someone arrives. DO NOT TRANSPORT THE CHILD OR TAKE THEM AWAY FROM THE PREMISES.
   5. f a police officer has been called and the parent/guardian arrives first, get the name of the person who arrived to pick up the child. If you are dealing with a situation where there is a long-standing problem with the parent leaving children unattended and/or being late to pick them up or where you have reason to suspect there is a pattern of neglect, ask the parent to stay and talk with the police. But as always, we can't force someone to stay.  If you are dealing with a parent who has never done this before and may have gotten caught up in extenuating circumstances, use best your best judgment whether or not to ask them to stay.
   6. If the child leaves before police arrive, the PIC may try canceling the call by again contacting the non-emergency number.  Both staff must wait for the police officer and explain what has happened with the child, if so instructed.
   7. Report what has occurred on a Security or Incident Log. Include the name of both staff members who stayed late.
4. If an adult has not arrived to pick up a child aged 10 or over and the library is closing:
   1. Ask the child if they want to go home alone or wait for an adult in the library with the PIC and another staff member.
   2. If the child elects to stay with the PIC and another staff member, follow the steps in numbers 2 and 3. If staff deem the child at a mental age of less than 10, or incapable of being left alone, clearly explain the situation to the dispatcher. The non-emergency operator might not send a police officer.
   3. cIf the police will not be coming - staff may leave the child outside the library and depart. Legally, a parent may leave a child 10 and above alone. We close prior to any local curfews.