GENERAL GOALS OF THE RUSSELL & DISTRICT REGIONAL LIBRARY
The purpose of the Russell and District Regional Library is to obtain, organize and make available for all residents of the Municipality of Russell-Binscarth materials that are educational, recreational and informative. The purpose of the Library policy is to maintain an up to date collection of materials in convenient forms such as books, periodicals, audio visual materials, and pamphlets.
The Library Board and Staff’s goal is to provide our area with effective library services and to encourage people young and old to continue their education and keep abreast of changing times.
Realization of these objectives can be obtained by:
- serving the public competently at all times
- maintaining accuracy in information
- continually re-appraising and keeping up to date with library services
- Working together to strive for good public relations with all concerned.
UNATTENDED CHILDREN POLICY
The Russell & District Regional Library hopes that the children who use the library will find the facility to be a warm and inviting place to develop a love of books, reading and the library. Many programs are offered to make the library enticing to children but when children are left unattended for several hours when no library programs are offered, they can become disruptive
The safety of children left alone in a library building is a serious concern. Library staff and volunteers are not responsible for children who are unattended. Parents or caregivers may not leave children under the age of 10 years unattended in the Library, unless they are directly and actively supervised by a responsible caregiver over the age of 12.
In order to create an environment of safety, and maintain an atmosphere where reading and study can be encouraged, the following policy has been created:
CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO ADHERE TO THE SAME RULES AS STATED FOR ALL PATRONS WITH THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONS:
- Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior of their children in the library, and may not leave children under the age of 10 unattended, unless actively supervised by someone over the age of 12.
- If a problem arises with a child and we are unable to locate the parent/guardian or if the library is closing and the parent/guardian cannot be located, the police will be called at the discretion of the staff, after a reasonable amount of time or up to 30 minutes.
- Children, over 10, may be left unattended (at the discretion of their parent/guardian) for a period of time not exceeding two hours with appropriate permission as acceptable to the library staff, during regular library hours. Children left unattended should know how to reach a parent/guardian, and parents should be aware of the closing time of the library.
- When children are left unattended repeatedly and/or for long periods of time, the Library Staff person on duty will notify the parent/guardian of the library’s policies and require compliance.
- Staff members will not transport children from the library to any location.
COMPLAINTS ON LIBRARY MATERIAL
Procedure for handling all complaints:
- It is requested that the patron submit and sign a written complaint (FORM A).
- Upon receipt of complaint to the librarian, a board member will be notified to examine the material in question and give the patron a response within two weeks.
- The response must be based on the reasons for selection and policies of the library.