Children's Room Policies

We want to make your child’s time and your time in the Library a happy experience. We have a beautiful spacious Children’s Room, and many wonderful books, magazines and multi-media materials to look at and borrow. For the safety and comfort of all of our Children’s Room patrons, we must enforce the following rules. See also our Children’s Internet Use policy and My online safety guide.

1. For their safety, children under 9 years of age (generally third grade and younger) may not be left alone in the Children’s Room. Children under 9 years old must be supervised by a person 12 years of age or older (Generally a person 12 years old is in 7th grade or older; in other words middle or high school age. 12 is the youngest age that may take the YMCA’s Safe Babysitter’s course).

2. Children are not allowed to run in the Children’s Room or jump off the furniture or picture book ledge, as the rubber/plastic soles of shoes catch on the carpet and can cause children to fall. A bloody nose is usually the unhappy result. While libraries today no longer insist on silence or whispers, “walking feet” and quiet play or conversation is requested. Very loud play is not allowed in the Children’s Room.

Children and adults are encouraged to speak and move quietly for the following reasons: so as to not disturb another parent or caregiver reading or working with a child, and out of courtesy to others because all patrons and staff deserve a reasonably calm atmosphere in which to select their materials and work.

3. As in any public place, parents and caregivers are expected to supervise the activity of their children. Young children especially wander away quickly and become easily bored if their caregiver’s attention is not focused on them. Children do not instinctively know the behavior expected of them in a new place, and should have the Library rules explained to them.

Parents and caregivers should keep in mind that while the Children’s area is intended primarily for children, “child” in this room may be anyone from birth through sixth grade. There are materials and equipment within the room that are not suitable or safe for very young children to “explore”. Library staff reserves the right to speak to a child or the caregiver of a child whose behavior is disruptive or unsafe for the child or others.

Large stuffed animals on top of the shelves (dragon, panda, gorilla, for example) and some other objects in the room (such as signs or the boxcar display shelf) are meant for decorations, and are not to be taken down from the shelves and played with. Children may gently pet the stuffed animals. The Children’s Room has a collection of puzzles for young children to play with while visiting. Please treat them gently and show any that have broken or missing pieces to a staff person.

4. Walking or toddling children must wear shoes or boots while in the children’s room: RI law requires footwear to be worn in a public place. But we are also mindful of your child’s safety. Though carpets are vacuumed on a regular basis, debris from outside such as gravel, mud and occasionally glass, may be inadvertently tracked in on shoes and left on the carpets. Also, small objects have a habit of showing up unexpectedly, and we do not want any barefoot child being injured by stepping on a stray staple, tack, or toy.