The Chicago Public Library welcomes the use of its services and facilities by children.
Staff members are committed to:
- helping children find materials for school work and recreational reading.
- providing an environment that encourages study and exploration.
- planning short programs that inform and enrich.
Staff members are also committed to the well-being and safety of children. However, library facilities are not designed or licensed to provide basic child care needs such as healthy snacks, physical exercise or emergency care if the child becomes ill or upset. Any public place may be dangerous for a child who is left unattended for long hours or who is left stranded after closing hours.
The library encourages parents to consider the safety and well-being of their children and the needs of other library users of all ages.
Policy
Parents may not leave children under age 11 unattended in the library. Disruptive children, attended or unattended, age 11 or older may be asked to leave the library after one warning.
Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children in the library, whether or not the parent is present.
