Central West Libraries is committed to serving the information and recreation needs of
young people. The Library strives to provide a welcoming environment, and provides
targeted resources and programs to meet the needs of young people.
In providing services for children, Central West Libraries acknowledges child-safe and child-friendly policies and practices as defined by the NSW Commission for Children and Young People. These are defined as follows:
Child-safe means taking steps to keep children safe from physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Child-friendly means children are valued, respected and included so they feel confident they will be listened to.
All services and programs provided by Central West Libraries when working with children and young persons.
- Central West Libraries’ services to young people include:
- fiction, non-fiction and recreational books
- magazines
- computer games for in library use (subject to observing copyright)
- C
- Ds
- DVDs
- computer and internet access
- assistance from specialist and general staff in accessing collections and
- information
- homework help
- eBooks and eResources
- internet training
- Storytime
- early childhood literacy programs
- competitions and awards
- space for activities or study
- school holiday activities
Access to Resources
Central West Libraries’ general collection may contain publications that have been classified “Unrestricted” and films and computer games that have been classified “G” (General), “PG” (Parental Guidance) or “M” (Mature) in accordance with the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (Commonwealth). This material is available to all persons, including young persons,without restriction.
Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that their child’s selection and use of materials in the Library’s general collection accords with any restrictions the family may wish to set. Central West Libraries encourages parents/guardians to consult with their child to develop clear rules regarding access to resources that accord with the family’s personal values and beliefs.
The Library promotes and supports young people’s access to information, including electronic information through its internet facilities. Library staff are available to assist young people in the use of the internet, and to recommend websites on particular subjects.
A number of appropriate websites have been selected for inclusion in the Library’s electronic collections. Parents/guardians are responsible for their child’s use of the internet, in line with the Library’s internet policy.
Central West Libraries supports the smart, safe and responsible use of technology.
Unattended children
Unsupervised children can be at risk in any public place, including public libraries. Central West Libraries staff do not supervise children in the library, and there is a risk that unattended children may leave the library at any time, hurt themselves, or be approached by strangers. In addition, libraries do not have the facilities to attend to children who are sick, injured or hungry.
Children left unattended in a public library may be classed as a child or young person at risk of harm under s.23 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 and may be reported as such to the Director-General of the Department of Family and Community Services.
Parents who leave a child unattended in a public library are exposing their child to potential harm, and may be committing an offence under s.228 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.
Young children left alone in a library can become distressed, bored or disruptive.
Young people who disturb other library users may be removed from the Library under clause 17 of the Library Regulation 2010 (NSW).