The challenge of unattended children in the public library

Public libraries will continue to be challenged by the presence of unattended children in the library as long as parents struggle to provide adequate childcare arrangements. This article discusses some typical library responses to the presence of unattended children and identifies elements that are shared by the most successful programs. Many libraries have found that offering programs for children is an excellent way to strengthen the relationship between the library and its community. In addition, innovative programs that encourage young library users provide an opportunity to foster a new generation of library users, which is critical if libraries are to survive as an institution in the coming years.