Kootenai-Shoshone Area Libraries staff welcomes children to the library branches and hopes that the children who use our libraries will come to know them as warm, inviting and enriching places to be.
Our library service to children is designed to stimulate the desire for lifelong learning, to develop a love for reading, to provide opportunities for parent - child sharing and interaction and to offer supplementary resources for school assignments.
The Library encourages parents to accompany their children and supports a parent's right and responsibility to guide their children's reading, listening and viewing of materials.
Trained staff are provided to assist parents and children to access and choose the most appropriate materials. The library does not make a determination of what children should read, view, listen or borrow. The library does not act in loco parentis, but rather provides materials, programming and a physical environment that support parent's and children's search for diverse materials and ideas.
Anyone under the age of eighteen must have the library card application signed by a parent/guardian. If an item is returned late, lost or damaged, the parent/guardian will be responsible for the fine or replacement fee. Children are welcome to reserve items. A library staff member will call to notify the child when the item is available. Library policy on confidentiality requires that only the person placing the reserve will be given the title of the book they have reserved. No information will be shared over the telephone with anyone other than the person whose name is on the reserve form. If you wish to know what your child has checked out or has placed on reserve, you must bring your child's card into the library. You may wish to reserve items for your child on your library card so that all telephone calls will go to you.
By allowing your child to have a library card, you are giving them access to the entire library collection. The library does not censor your child's access to materials or information. Some material or information may not be appropriate for your child at this time. It is your responsibility to oversee you child's selection or material.
Reference materials on CD-ROM and the Internet are available to any library cardholder, including children. Parents, not the library staff, are responsible for the CD-ROM and Internet information selected and/or accessed by their children. Parents--and only parents--may restrict their children--and only their own children--from access to CD-ROM and Internet resources. Parents are encouraged to supervise their children's CD-ROM and Internet sessions. We welcome your child to the library and will strive to make each library visit pleasant and informative.