The minimum age a child can use the Boone County Public Library’s resources unattended is now 12.
The vote to adopt the rule within the library’s Unattended Children Policy passed by a 4-1 margin during Monday’s regular Board of Trustees meeting at the main branch in Burlington.
“We’ve rearranged a little bit, just to make it clearer,” Boone County Public Library Executive Director Carrie Herrmann said. “We’ve changed the age from 10 to 12 to be able to come into the library without a parent or legal guardian with them. Caregivers must be age 13 or older to effectively supervise younger children.”
The age 12 provision is allowed provided the child’s behavior is not disruptive – with disruptive behavior including, but not being limited to, disturbing others, damaging items that belong to the library or other users, according to the policy.
“Personally, I’m still not sold on the 12, but I’m older,” Boone County Public Library Board of Trustees President Barbara Hill said. “It’s different times now. There’s some bad people in the world who could come in here and monitor children.”
Children ages six through 11 must be supervised by a caregiver in the same area of the building, unless the child is participating in a library program, according to the policy.
“I think 12 is low,” Board Member Donald Trame said. “I would rather see it at 14. That’s talking to family, friends and neighbors who have children that are in this 10 to 14, 15 age range.”
A happy medium regarding the age of an unattended child being allowed in the library is 12, Board Member Emily Myers said.
“I think when you’re looking at kids that are entering middle school and they have additional responsibilities, maybe, to access resources and materials they don’t have at home…where else are they going to get that experience if they can’t come to the library?” Myers said. “Different perspectives, different life stages. If they’re in middle school, they should be responsible enough.”
The lone dissenting vote regarding the policy change was cast by Board Member Eric Jackson.
“I kind of side on a 14 age,” Jackson said. “I think 12 is too young, so probably the middle ground, 13 is the compromise – in my mind.”