The Manatee County Public Library System welcomes library use by children and their caregivers; we seek to provide a welcoming and appropriate environment. Professionally trained staff are available to help with research for homework and projects and to help locate materials. Library staff do not provide long or short-term childcare. The responsibility for the safety, behavior, and supervision of children in the Library rests with the parent, legal guardian, or caregiver.
- Children ages 11 and under must be accompanied by someone 16 years of age or older (with parental emergency contact information) in all Library facilities.
- Children ages 11 and under attending a Library-sponsored event must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or caregiver (who must be 16 years old or older) who shall always remain in the Library, within sight and aware of the child’s activity. Children under the age of 5 attending a Library-sponsored event must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or caregiver for the duration of the event.
- When a child age 11 or under is found unattended, a staff member will attempt to locate the child's parent, legal guardian, or caregiver in the library building or contact them by phone.
- If a parent, legal guardian or caregiver cannot be located, law enforcement will be called.
- Children ages 12 and older may be in the library unsupervised, during hours that school is not in session.
- Parents, legal guardians, and caregivers are responsible to know Library hours and policies.
To obtain the full Library Use Policy with all guidelines regarding children, please email [email protected]
