Safe Child Policy

Unaccompanied Minors 

The Nevada County Library welcomes and encourages children to visit the Library, use library resources and services, and attend library programs. Staff members are available to help and support children; however, the Library is not able to provide short- or long-term child care or be responsible for unattended children. 

Unattended children are children of any age who are apparently unaccompanied by a parent, guardian, and/or responsible caregiver. Children who are unable or unwilling to care for themselves may not be left alone in the Library and must have adequate supervision while in the Library. The Library is not responsible if children leave Library property unattended. 

Parents, guardians, and/or caregivers are responsible for the safety, behavior, and supervision of children at all times in the Library and on library property. Children are expected to respect library property and adhere to the rules outlined in the Library Code of Conduct. Please follow the guideline that if a child is not able to leave the library without an adult, they should not be in the library alone. 

Library staff will attempt to contact a parent, guardian, and/or caregiver if: 

• An unattended child is engaging in disruptive behavior; 
• An unattended child is involved in a potentially harmful situation to the health or safety of themselves or others;  
• An unattended child is left alone at the Library at closing time. 

Such situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If parents, guardians, and/or caregivers cannot be reached, or are unresponsive, the Library will work with other city agencies as needed. 

Unaccompanied Adults 

The Nevada County Library is committed to providing a safe and welcoming experience for youth in our libraries. As such, youth spaces or rooms have been identified at each of our circulating branches.  

Adults may use the youth-specific spaces or rooms of the Library only when accompanied by a child using those areas. At the discretion of library staff, unaccompanied adults may access the youth area to checkout and review youth materials.  Adults loitering in youth-specific spaces is prohibited. Library staff will work with unaccompanied adults to ensure full access to materials they need to retrieve or place on hold.  

In accordance with the Nevada County Library’s code of conduct, Library staff reserve the right to ask patrons to leave the children’s area, or the library entirely, for failure to abide by the Library’s policies.