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Unattended Children Policy
The Kennebunk Free Library is dedicated to providing a welcoming and safe
environment for customers of all ages. Sharing this environment with other
people requires that everyone follow the Patron Conduct Policy posted in
multiple locations around the Library and on the Library website.
The Staff and Trustees of the Kennebunk Free Library welcome and encourage
children to use its facilities and services. Children in the Library should
always be accompanied by a parent/guardian or caregiver.
The safety of children left alone in a Library building is a serious concern
of the Library staff. The responsibility for the safety and behavior of children
in the Library rests with the parent/caregiver and not with the Library
personnel. Library employees cannot be responsible for children who are
unattended or demonstrating inappropriate behavior.
The following guidelines will be followed concerning the care and behavior of
young Library users:
Children Age 8 and under must have a parent/caregiver in the immediate
vicinity of and in visual contact with the child. An exception would be children
attending a Library program without a parent/caregiver in the room. However, the
parent/caregiver is expected to remain in the Library building and immediately
join the child at the end of the program.
If a child in this age group is found unattended, Library staff will attempt
to locate the parent/caregiver in the Library and inform him/her of the policy.
If the parent/caregiver cannot be found, or if the child is found unattended
again, the police will be called for assistance.
If a child in this age group violates the Patron Conduct Policy, the child
and the parent/caregiver will be informed of the rules. If inappropriate
behavior continues, the family may be asked to leave the Library.
Children 9 and older may use the Library on their own. However, parents are
still responsible for the actions and the well-being of their child(ren).
Children using inappropriate behavior may be asked to leave the Library. If a
child in this age group is not permitted by a parent/caregiver to leave the
Library without an adult, he/she should not be in the Library alone. This is a
particular concern in inclement weather and after dark. All children should have
the telephone number of someone who can assist them in an emergency.
Teenagers are treated as adult users. However, they are still legally the
responsibility of their parents and should have an emergency contact available.
Closing Time: Children who do not have transportation home at closing time
will be asked for telephone numbers of people who can pick them up at the
Library. A patron courtesy telephone is available on the lower level next to the
elevator for local calls. If transportation is not available within 15 minutes
of closing, the police will be called for assistance.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 09-30-08
Patron Conduct Policy
The mission of the Kennebunk Free Library is to serve the diverse cultural,
informational, educational and recreational needs of the community. The Library
and its staff are committed to providing a safe and congenial atmosphere in
which to carry out this mission.
The foregoing commitment can only be fully achieved if users of the Library
respect the rights of all other users as well as the staff and volunteers. This
general statement underlies the more specific provisions of the Library’s Code
of Conduct set forth below and basically requires that Library users act in a
manner that will not interfere with the functioning of the Library or disturb
others.
This Patron Conduct Policy will be posted in multiple locations around the
Library and on the Library website.
CODE OF CONDUCT
1. No Library property may be misused, mutilated, damaged, or defaced, nor
may any material be removed from the Library without being checked out
appropriately.
2. The Library staff may ask to examine users’ briefcases, handbags, and other
packages to help assure compliance with the Library’s checkout procedures.
3. All materials borrowed from the Library must be returned or renewed in a
timely manner.
4. Use of the Library’s search, copy, print, and other information machines, as
well as its courtesy telephone, is subject to reasonable limitation, at the
discretion of the Library staff, if others are waiting.
5. Behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disturb others, such
as shouting or loud talking, including loud telephone talking, and the use of
radios, or other electronic devices without earphones, are not permitted
anywhere in the Library.
6. Upon entering the Library building, cell phones should be set to vibrate or
turned off. Cell phone calls may be made only in the vestibule area or outside
the building. Incoming cell phone calls may be answered in a low conversational
voice, but conversations should be continued in the vestibule area or outside
the building.
7. Since the Library is not designed to serve as a public shelter or lounge,
sleeping, lingering aimlessly, and misuse of the rest rooms cannot be allowed.
8. Interference with or the harassment or intimidation of other users, the
Library staff, or Library volunteers represents unacceptable behavior. This
includes all unwanted or abusive attention by word, act, look, or gesture.
9. The Library staff and this Policy recognize that the children's area of the
library may be louder and have more commotion than the adult areas of the
Library. However, if a child is behaving in a manner which can reasonably be
expected to disturb others and cannot be quieted or calmed, the parent or
caregiver must remove the child from the Library.
10. The use of tobacco, alcohol or illegal substances is not permitted.
11. Consumption of food and beverages must be in compliance with the Library’s
Food and Beverage Policy.
12. Patrons shall not be permitted to enter the building without a shirt or
other covering of their upper bodies or without shoes or other footwear.
13. Patrons whose bodily hygiene is offensive so as to constitute a nuisance to
other persons shall be required to leave the building.
14. The presence of pets on Library property must be in compliance with the
Library’s Pet Policy.
15. Weapons are not permitted on Library property except as specifically
authorized by law. 1
6. The use of skateboards, rollerblades or similar devices is not permitted on
any Library property.
The Kennebunk Free Library staff has been authorized to administer the Patron
Conduct Policy and, if necessary, to modify and/or adapt the Code of Conduct to
special circumstances.
Users who do not comply with the Code of Conduct or any reasonable request of
the staff may be asked to leave the Library premises. Continued noncompliance
may result in action ranging from suspension or termination of Library
privileges to prohibiting access to the Library premises. Egregious behavior may
be reported to the police.
The decision of a staff member pursuant to this Policy may be subject to
review by the Library Director. The decision of the Library Director is final.
However, a decision of the Library Director to revoke Library privileges may be
appealed to the Board of Trustees pursuant to the Library Grievance Policy.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 9/30/08
Patron Pet Policy
The Kennebunk Free Library strives to create welcoming, clean and comfortable
environments for all members of the public. Consistent with this goal, patrons’
pets are not allowed in the Library, with the exception of service animals and
animals involved in approved Library events.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 09-30-08 | 
