Guidelines for Parents

Computer Use
• A parent or guardian must accompany a child in 2nd grade or younger while he is using the multi-media computer.
• Parents or guardians are responsible for monitoring their children’s use of the Internet. The Library and its personnel cannot act “in loco parentis.”
• The Internet cannot be used for purposes of Chat or e-mail.
• Library customers must have their Library card with them at the time they wish to use Library computers.

Borrowing Books
• In order to borrow books from the Old Bridge Library, a customer must have a library card. A library card will be issued to residents after proof of residency and address has been provided to the Library. Library card applications are available at the Check Out Desk.
• Children of any age can apply for library cards. The Library leaves this decision to the parents. If a library card is lost, there is $2.00 replacement fee.
• A customer’s library card or I.D. shall be held by the librarian on duty if a non-security reference book is to be used in another department of the Library.
• A customer’s library card or I.D. shall be held by the librarian on duty while security reference materials are being used.
• Each customer may borrow a maximum of five (5) Easy Reader Books and a maximum of three (3) nonfiction books on one subject (Dewey Decimal number) at one time. There is no limit to the number of folk or fairy tale books that may be borrowed at any time.
• There is no limit to the number of books that can be borrowed from other collections in the Children's Department.

Programs & Activities
• All customers registering for programs in the Youth Services Department are required to have valid Old Bridge Library cards.
• Most programs are advertised for specific ages of children. These programs have been planned so that they are developmentally appropriate for the children of that age. Please understand that age limitations are important and are implemented for the benefit of all our children.
• Most programs require pre-registration and many fill up quickly. Programs are planned to accommodate a limited number of children. This is done to ensure that the children receive the attention they deserve and can benefit from the activities in the program. Our programs offer a learning and enrichment opportunity and we believe that small groups promote this.
• We do maintain waiting lists in the event another child needs to cancel. In that case, children on the waiting list will be called in the order of placement on the waiting list.
• To ensure the safety of the children attending programs, we request that parents remain in the building during the program. The Library is a large and public facility. The parent’s presence in the building during a program or while a child is using the Department helps to ensure the children’s safety.

Supervision & Safety of Children
• Parents or guardians shall be responsible for the behavior of children while the children are in the Library.
• No child under the age of eight (8) years of age shall be left without adult supervision for any reason in any part of the Library
• The Children’s Department can be used for appropriate activities only. Some examples of this are: doing homework, reading, thinking, working on computers, playing with puzzles and quietly conversing.
• Customers behaving inappropriately will be asked to leave the Library and parents will be notified.
• Librarians will attempt to locate the parents of children left unattended in the Library. In the event a parent cannot be found, the Police will be notified and asked to supervise the child until the parent can be located.

How to Reach Us
• Call the Children's Department at 732.721.5600 ext 5028.
• Call the Laurence Harbor Branch at 732.566.2227.
• Use our web site at: www.oldbridgelibrary.org
• On the Internet, you can: use our automated catalog to find books in our Library and other libraries in the area; use our databases; find local information; find recommended links to Internet resources; and reserve books and other materials.

 

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Revised: 03/22/08