All children under the age of 15 must be accompanied and directly supervised by an adult while in the facilities of the Tempe, Downtown and Polytechnic campus libraries. The limited exception is: children under the age of 15 who are currently affiliated with an ASU Program as reflected in University records. Unescorted children will be required to leave the premises. All users of the facilities of the Tempe campus libraries are subject to the provisions of the ASU Library's Code of Conduct and the Computer Use Policy. Access to, or use of, the Internet by minor children is solely the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.
Safety concerns:
- ASU Library is open to the public. This situation may put a child at serious risk from strangers.
- Since ASU Library is an academic research Library, much of the Internet access is unfiltered. This unedited access to the Internet may not be in a child’s best interest.
- Library staff cannot be responsible for children’s safety and comfort, especially in an emergency situation.
- If an unattended child is injured or becomes ill while in the library, library staff does not know the parent or caregiver to contact in an emergency and cannot authorize medical care for the child.
- If a child wishes to leave the library, or leaves with a stranger, the library staff cannot legally detain the child, even if the parent has told the child to remain within the library in the parent’s absence.
Distraction concerns:
In support of its academic research mission, ASU Library selects library resources for the adult researcher and advanced student. The library maintains an environment conducive to study and research. Children can become bored or restless, and may either injure themselves, harm expensive library equipment or distract library users and staff.
Responsibilities of ASU Library staff:
- If a child is with an adult but is not being actively supervised by the adult and is acting inappropriately (i.e. distracting other users, making noise, playing with library equipment), library staff will attempt to locate the adult and inform them that the child must be supervised. The staff member will give the adult the library handout on unattended children.
- If the child is left in the library without any adult supervision, the staff member will notify ASU Police as appropriate.
- In the event that a child is ill or injured in the library, attempt to notify the child’s parent or caregiver if possible. In an emergency, call ASU Police (480-965-3456) at once.
Federal depository library materials use:
To accommodate the legal use of Federal depository materials in the Fletcher Library, any unaccompanied child under 15 who self-identifies the need to access Federal depository materials for research will receive mediated searching assistance from library staff to identify and make available this material. Depending on the time of the request, the mediated searching will take place in two ways.
- During Government Documents Services reference hours, the child will be directed to the Government Documents area to receive specialized reference assistance from government documents staff.
- During all other hours, the child will receive mediated searching assistance from Information Services desk staff. Any government information research that cannot be answered by Information Services staff will be referred by phone or e-mail to Government Documents Services that will respond within 24 business hours.
All unaccompanied children receiving this assistance are subject to the provisions of the ASU Library's Code of Conduct and the Computer Use Policy.