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Truant students in the library
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Truant students in the library
11:06 AM EST 2/11/08
Does anyone have guidelines or a policy on the handling of truant students in the public library during school hours?
Re: Truant students in the library
12:06 PM EST 2/11/08 as a reply to Diane Christian.
Hmmm. Given the number of homeschoolers we have using the library, I don't see how to identify truants (much less worry about them).

Where I am, in Illinois, I don't think we have a legal obligation to "rat" on them. We might, though, if they're a pain. ;-)
Re: Truant students in the library
8:20 PM EST 2/11/08 as a reply to Bob Watson.
LB is right about homeschoolers, but if we know who the errant student is we do alert the school. It's happened once in four years. The really good school-skippers know better than to be seen by our busybodies :-)
Re: Truant students in the library
7:23 PM EST 2/19/08 as a reply to Diane Christian.
This wins the prize for [url /forums/message.jspa?messageID=49015#49015]question of the week[/url]!

People will post their suggestions here in your topic.
Thanks for the great question!
Re: Truant students in the library
1:29 PM EST 2/26/08 as a reply to Diane Christian.
I ama branch manager in a community that is about four blocks from the high school. I am a former school librrian and so I know about kids who are truant.

I do not let truant student or those suspended or expelled into the library until 2:30 when school is out.

Every kid I confront is up front with me say they have been suspended or are truant. Sionce they are on MySpace or are playing games I feel I am doing the correct thing.

I have asked the high school to have the teachers "[ush" their worksheet to my email address. I can then print them out and have avaialable in case students need to see what as assignment is.

No easy answer here.

Nancy Graf
Interim Branch Manager
Pasco Library/ Mid Columbia Library System
Pasco, WA 99301
ngraf@mcl-lib.org
Re: Truant students in the library
6:41 PM EST 3/2/08 as a reply to Diane Christian.
Why on earth would you want to interfere unless the child in question was misbehaving?

Anyone using the library at any time during the day is protected by the state's laws regardless of age. Most states now prohibit us from revealing who has been in the library to *anyone* unless that person has a court order signed by a judge. In our state it is illegal for us to reveal that information.

So, apply the rules of behavior. If you do not have a library standards for conduct in the building, get one yesterday! If the kid is not a problem leave it not a problem.

If the kid is a problem, apply the same standards of behavior and progressive discipline you would apply with an adult. The only exception to make would be to allow the child a chance to call his or her parents for a ride home or to call his or her school I guess.

If the schools suspect a child who is truant is spending his or her time elsewhere, it's up to them to send a truancy officer to look for him or her in all the usual places - including any public spaces nearby.