Safety Policy

The Milford Town Library is a focal point for community learning. The Library attempts to provide a safe and harassment-free environment for all who use the facility. These rules are based upon respecting the safety of children and adults while they are using the library and protecting the library's collection from damage.

Unattended and Vulnerable Children

The happiness and safety of young children left alone at the library is a serious concern. Responsibility for children using the library rests at all times with the parent(s) or assigned caregiver(s), not with Library personnel. Parents must use their discretion in determining when their children are sufficiently mature and responsible to use the library unaccompanied by an adult. The library is a public building, and children should not be left alone. An unattended child is any young person who is using the public library unaccompanied by a responsible adult. A vulnerable child is any unattended child whose safety or well-being may be endangered or who is unable to care for his or herself. Because children develop and mature at different rates, there is no magic age at which all children are ready to cope with the variety of circumstances they may face alone in the library. Library staff must use their judgment and discretion in determining whether or not an unattended child is vulnerable or at-risk.                                          

All children using the library must know how to reach a parent or a responsible adult in case of an emergency. Parents and caregivers should be familiar with the library's hours of operation and should not leave children at the Library before opening or after closing. The Library may also be closed due to an unexpected emergency (storms, power outages, etc.). Parents should discuss arrangements and contingency plans for emergency pick-up with their children.

The library will call the Milford Police Department to escort children who have been left in the building after closing. Responsible adults will be called to pick up the child at the Milford Police Station.

Disruptive Behavior

All library users are expected to conduct themselves in a manner, which shows respect for others using the Library. Disruptive conduct which prevents others from enjoying the Library or which endangers people or property is not allowed. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to: destruction of property; stealing; harassment of employees and patrons; threats toward employees and patrons; racial insults or hate speech; fighting; noisy or boisterous behavior that is disturbing other people in the Library; running; inappropriate or annoying behavior; eating or drinking on the Main Floor of the library.

The parent/guardian is responsible for insuring appropriate behavior of their children in the library. Children who are being disruptive and do not respond to a request from a library staff member to stop the disruptive behavior, will be asked to leave the building in an orderly manner. In the case of a vulnerable child, the parent/guardian will be called to pick them up. If a parent or responsible adult cannot be reached, or does not respond within one hour, the Milford Police will be called to escort the child to the Police Station. Repeated episodes of disruptive behavior will lead to temporary suspension from the Library. Parents will be required to speak to a member of the Library staff if their child has been suspended from using the Library before the suspension will be lifted.

Internet Use

Using computers in the Library for illegal purposes is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to using the Internet in violation of the Massachusetts General Law 272 Section 31, the Harmful to Minors statute or for the transmission of threatening, harassing, defamatory or obscene materials. Failure to comply with a request from a Library staff member to abide by these rules will result in suspension from the Library or criminal sanctions. Viewing child pornography or attempting to use sexually explicit images to entice a child will be reported immediately to the Police. Images that are deemed by Library staff to be threatening or unsafe for very young children will not be allowed on computer monitors in the Children's Room. Using computers with privacy screens is required of anyone who is viewing internet material that may be disturbing to young children or may infringe upon another person's rights. The public is encouraged to seek the assistance of a library staff member if enforcement of this rule is necessary.

Medical Emergencies

Library staff will not treat injuries or administer first aid. In the case of an injured unattended child, the Library staff will contact the parent or the responsible adult. 911 will be called to respond to all medical emergencies and to administer treatment for injuries sustained by an unattended child.

Fire Drills and Emergency Building Evacuation

In case of a fire alarm, it is important to know in advance what you should do. We urge each person who uses the library to take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the location of all exits, fire pulls and fire extinguishers.

Library staff is not responsible for conducting a search and rescue in the case of a fire. If you are on the lower level of the building when a fire alarm goes off, do not go upstairs - exit the building from the nearest exit in the basement. Groups using the Program Room should use the exit door in that room. If you are on the main floor, do not go downstairs. Never use the elevator when there is a fire alarm sounding. Once you leave the building, do not go back inside.

If you see a fire, even a small one, pull the fire alarm. Fire alarm pulls are positioned by all exit doors and are meant to be used on your way out of the building. Once outside the building, staff is instructed to meet in the far corner of the public parking lot. Staff will escort any unattended children to this location.

For non-fire evacuations of the building (e.g., power outage) the public address system on the telephone will be used to announce that we are evacuating the building.

Fire drills will be conducted by the Milford Fire Department on a semi-annual basis.

Child Abuse or Neglect

Suspected abuse or neglect of a child will be reported to the Department of Social Services Protective Screening Unit. According to Massachusetts law and the Department of Social Services regulations, these terms are defined as follows:

Abuse is the non-accidental commission of any act by a caretaker which causes or creates a substantial risk of harm or threat of harm to a child's well being or the commission of a sex offense against a child as defined by the criminal laws of the Commonwealth.

Neglect is the failure of a caretaker, either deliberately or through negligence, to take actions necessary to provide a child with minimally adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, supervision or other essential care