COp OuT? a case study

casebackground

problems

Presented

Tactical

Problem:

STAFFING

staffing* The Library staff are less than cordial when dealing with library clienteles.

* They also seem to be unaware and under-oriented of what to do when contingent situations arise.

Strategic

Problem:

PLANNING

Planning* No clear policies has been established on what to do with unattended children left after the library’s operating hours.

* The library Director, Butler, seemed haphazard in making new policy decisions.

Strategic

Problem:

CONTROLLING

controlling* The library’s manual of operations, specifically its operating hours, is not properly observed, monitored, and implemented.

* The boy and his mother do not seem to be acquainted with library operating procedures.

SUGGESTED

SOLUTIONS

TACTICAL

Solution:

STAFFING

STAFFING* If the staff’s less than ideal attitude towards library patrons progress over time, disciplinary measures should be undertaken.

* The staff should also be educated properly on how to recognize and what do with children how cannot be responsible for themselves well before closing time.

STAFFING* Due compensation for overtime work should be given to the library staff who would remain with unattended children after operating hours.

Strategic

Solution:

PLANNING

Planning* A clear policy on unattended children and similar contingent situations should be established.

Planning* The library director proposes policies; she does not create them!

* Being a public library, a new policy should be made only after surveying the communal pulse. Opinions should be solicited from the constituent staff, library board, local government agencies, and the general public.

SAMPLE POLICYUNATTENDED CHILDREN CLAUSE

“An ‘unattended child’ is defined as

any child below the age of eight (8) whose safety and well-being is threatened by being left unattended for an inappropriate length of time considering the child’s age, maturity and level of development

SAMPLE POLICYThe library is open only until 6:00 PM. A fifteen-minute warning period beforehand will be given for all library patrons to promptly leave the premises.

SAMPLE POLICY

If the library is closing, at a regular time or in an emergency situation, and a parent or a guardian of a child cannot be located in the building after fifteen (15) minutes, the Amity City Police Department would be contacted.”

Strategic

Solution:

CONTROLLING

Controlling* The library patrons should be firmly informed of the library’s operating hours and the subsequent procedures the staff are allowed to undertake in the best interest of their clients.

* If children left unattended are a regular occurrence in the library, the operating hours should be reconsidered and revised.

philippinesetting

P.D. No. 603

Sec. I, Art. 3, (10)

“Every child has the right to the care, assistance, and protection of the State, particularly when his parents or guardians fail or are unable to provide him with his fundamental needs for growth, development, and improvement”

Dacasin V. Dacasin

“The State ought not to interfere with the right of parents to bring up their child unless its exercise causes potential harm to him. The state steps in, through the law, only if there are compelling reasons to do so. State intrusion is uncalled for where the welfare of the child is not jeopardized.”

Common practice

It is a common but oft-unwritten practice for most public librarians in the Philippines to escort unattended children to the district police station. This is made easier as most public libraries are located adjacent to government building and public offices.

“Don’t you think

That’s a bitSevere?”

NOThe director is well within her rights to be concerned about library’s operations and its clients, hence formulate policies regarding them two.

The Library is not a day care. Custody over unattended children should be handed over to the proper authorities.

YESHowever, making such policy decisions should not be a haphazard, spur of the moment action. Policymaking should be a complex, consultative, and progressive process involving actors within the community.

GroupInsights

Other than public libraries, latchkey kids are also a problem with school libraries. Kids would often wait in their school library for their parents to fetch them or the school bus service to arrive.

Libraries have long been seen as a “depository” of children for most busy working parents. They’re cheaper than hiring babysitters or paying for daycareservice. The line of thinking of most parents is that the library is open for all children to learn and engage in fun activities, and their kids are better off being left in such places.

LuNecesario

GarciaEnriquez