"let drop off junior at the library" uh, no (longish)

[Mad_Sheep]

I know that my mum and dad would have run crazy if they wouldn't have known where i am at that age for 5 minutes! 4 hours in a public place where the kid can wander off go with a stranger or just by them self without any trouble?!? What are such people thinking?! Are they thinking at all?

[icmedia]

While I agree fully that a child age 6 is too young to be left alone anywhere, your library's policy would never fly in my town...

Our library is directly adjacent to a middle school (think kids ages 11-13) and two blocks away from an elementary school (where kids go from ages 5-11). Sometimes there are more kids there between the ages of 9 and 13 than anyone else, and none of them have adults accompanying them.

[depechemodefan]

When I worked at a branch for almost a year, we were right next door to a M.S. We didn't keep any kid out for being too young (under 14), though one day this kid was in during the day, and the manager talked to him. He said he was suspended from school for a week and his mom let him go to the library during the day. The manager told him he had to go home, he couldn't be there without a parent during the day.

kind off topic, but we had kids volunteer during the summer at that branch. They were over 14. Now the kids could only volunteer 2 hours a day (or week, I forgot) but the Young Adult librariank, who was in charge of the volunteers, didn't get that info (maybe it was somewhere but she didn't read it). These kids would stay 8 hours a day volunteering (ie, mom went to work/did want to bother having the kid in the house during the summer). So one of our regulars decided to volunteer in the middle of the summer. First day he volunteer he stapled his finger (ok, I'm still laughing about it, hee) so the YA librarian tried to call his mom but found out mom can't come pick him up. The YA librarian also found called the main volunteer co-ordinator at Central and found out that the kids could only be there for 2 hours, not 8 hours a day.

[Soria]

:: sighs:: What a twit.

[Geek King]

I know that the parent was sucky for leaving the kid...


...but, honestly, I would have thought being left at the Library for hours when I was six was awesome!

I was a wierd kid. When I was eight, I got asked if I was lost in the Library because I was browsing the regular sci-fi/fantasy shelves. In my defense, I had already read everything that interested me in Young Adults.

[depechemodefan]

I love unshelved. I also love look what I brought home but people have to pay to get into that site now.

Oh, and parents are dropping off their teens at the library for the whole day, so the teens go and buy food and take it to the teen area to eat.

I loved the library as a kid, but I was an escapist, I really didn't like the reality I lived in.

[taxguykarl]

I can't help but wonder how quickly that nonsense would end if you call Child Protective Services?

[Lace Neil Singer]

I loved books better than people.

[Kyree]

That is WAY to young to leave your kid for 2 minutes, let alone 4 HOURS, alone, in a public place. I can't believe with all of the kidnappings, missing children reports, etc etc, that people still do that.

Sit them down and make them read The face on the Milk Carton >.>

It's sad, as well, that libraries are not alone in the "free day care" category. Video game stores, toy stores, and fast food restaurants that have play lands are subject to the same >.< Like..um...I think it was Bob the Goat? Who went to McDonalds and found that kid who's mother left him there every day for hours. The mother actually looked into how long she could keep the kid there for, without getting in trouble with McDonalds. Can't find the link, though >.<

[bean]

3 times so far this year I've seen the fire department breaking into parked cars in our parking lot.

Why?

Because some braindead idiot left their child in their car.. when it's over 100 degrees out, with the engine off. And thankfully someone else saw it and called 911 to save the kid from the dumbass.

The parent always comes running out of a neighboring business freaking out about the broken window on their fucking SUV, only to be handcuffed by officer friendly standing right by the vehicle. Part of me wants to shout "YES!" when I see them get handcuffed.

[PepperElf]

i'm reminded of the Pet Store story from here... where some lady dropped her child off while she went to another store, not realizing the pet store closed an hour earlier than the other store did.

i also remember that they called the cops.

sometimes that's the best thing you can do... especially if the cops happen to take the kid away to the station or someplace safe. maybe a little bit of heart-stopping fear will wake the parents up

[looney_librarian]

That just happened the other day at my library. Kid walked in (no older than 10) with nothing more than his grandmother's phone number. Our policy is no kids under 13 admitted without parental escort. We tried talking to him and no response. Then we called the cops (not the college police). They came and sat with the boy until the mother showed up. She looked like white trash as best could be described. She finally did after like 20 min and was mad that she had to talk to the cops. She was told not to let it happen again. Guess what happened. As soon as the cops started to leave the mother let the boy go back into the library and she started to walk away AGAIN. We had to call the kid back from running towards computers and remind the lady once again of the rules. Yeah I do believe that child services might be talking to her within the next few days.

[PepperElf]

all i can say is "What part of 'He can't be left here alone' didn't you understand?"
sometimes you gotta be harsh when they're being stupid

[taxguykarl]

It's sad, as well, that libraries are not alone in the "free day care" category. Video game stores, toy stores, and fast food restaurants that have play lands are subject to the same

I narrowly prevented a ditz from using my tax office for that. She forgot a 1099 and wanted to leave her brats (boys about 4 and 6) who were already exchanging blows in the waiting area.

Long story short: I threatened promised to call the police and child protective services. The office does not have insurance coverage for hyperactive kids injuring themselves and/or each other and staff does not have the training.

[Kalga]

I love unshelved. I also love look what I brought home but people have to pay to get into that site now.

Oh, and parents are dropping off their teens at the library for the whole day, so the teens go and buy food and take it to the teen area to eat.

I loved the library as a kid, but I was an escapist, I really didn't like the reality I lived in.

Me too. Still am. I'm reading Unshelved now. Who ever posted it, thanks. My first job was shelving books.

I normally hang out at the library for a long time. Hell...that's how I got the job...But we eat at a picnic table near the nearby police station, after going down the street to 7-11 or Quick Check.

I love books better than people.

Fixed.