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Your Child, the Library and You

The Miami‑Dade Public Library System offers a full range of programs for children from pre‑school to high school age. We welcome and encourage your child’s participation along with yours. However, we cannot act in your place in providing constant care and supervision of your unattended child.

Parents/Caregivers can help us by:

  • Teaching your child your address and phone numbers, so that you can be contacted in case of emergency.
  • Accompanying your child to the library, or having the youngster visit in the company of a young adult or adult caregiver.
  • Not leaving your child outside the library before it opens.
  • Picking up your child before library closing time.

Even older children can become hungry, distracted or frightened when left alone.

Library Policy

The Library is a public place. It is unsafe to leave children outside a library at closing time. You are responsible for your child’s safety at closing time. Please be aware of library schedules and hours.

Internet Safety Resources

Since the Internet is a global electronic network of information not under the control of the Miami‑Dade Public Library System, the Library cannot regulate the nature or content of the information accessed nor the availability of any given Internet site. There may be sites that carry information some individuals consider controversial, inappropriate, or offensive.

Librarians cannot act in the place of parents in providing constant care and supervision of children as they explore the Internet. The responsibility for what minors read or view on the Internet rests with parents or guardians.

Internet Safety Guidelines

  • Use the Internet as a family. Join your children in Internet exploration.
  • Explore the wide range of available information and tell your children about sites you consider inappropriate for them.
  • Encourage children to use sites recommended on the Library's Home Page and counsel them to avoid sites you consider unsuitable.
  • Provide guidelines for your children on the amount of time they spend online, just as with television viewing.
  • Instruct children never to give out personal information (name, address, password, telephone number, credit card number) online.
  • Teach children to be good online consumers. As with print information, consider the source, date, and accuracy of online information.

Internet Safety

The Miami‑Dade Public Library System provides access to the Internet to fulfill its mission

Since the Internet is an unregulated global electronic network of information not under the control of Miami‑Dade Public Library System, the Library is not responsible for the content or accuracy of information accessed or the availability of any given Internet site. Providing information through the Internet is not the same as selecting and purchasing materials for the Library's collection. Some information provided through the Internet may not meet the Library's selection criteria or guidelines. Users are cautioned to be aware that information may be inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, biased, inappropriate or offensive.

Internet workstations are located in public areas. Users need to be considerate and refrain from displaying materials that those around them might reasonably consider objectionable.

In accordance with the Children's Internet Protection Act, (CIPA) (Pub. L. 106‑554), Miami‑Dade Public Library System uses filtering software on all computers. The filtering software will be temporarily disabled on the request of an adult library patron for lawful purposes. The Library does not disable the filtering software for minors.

Parents/guardians should be aware that filtering software does not prevent access to all inappropriate or objectionable materials and, thus, parents/guardians are responsible for what children view when using the Library. Staff members are unable to monitor or supervise access on computers in the Library.

Parents/guardians should instruct children NEVER to give out personal information (name, address, password, telephone number, credit card number) online.

The Library does play a role in assisting parents/guardians in understanding good Internet safety practices for their children and themselves. This Internet Safety and Safety Education Policy has been established for that purpose.


The Library will inform the public about good Internet safety practices by:

  • Providing posters, book marks, and flyers on the topic.
  • Providing information regarding Internet safety for parents/guardians and children on the Library web site.
  • Providing links from the Library Web Site to other Internet safety sites from law enforcement agencies and other reputable organizations.
  • Providing information regarding Internet safety for parents/guardians and children at scheduled Library programs.
  • Through this policy, the Library hopes to promote safe use of the Internet and broaden users' awareness of the positive and negative aspects of Internet searching.

Internet Safety Education

Useful Internet and online safety resources and tips for adults and children.
Federal Trade Commission: Privacy, Identity and Online Security
Users need to be considerate and refrain from displaying materials that those around them might reasonably consider objectionable. Users must abide by the Miami‑Dade County Liability Disclaimer and User Agreement . Anyone who violates these rules may be asked by staff to leave the premises. Library staff may ask for assistance from the local police department if needed to enforce these rules.

Rules of Conduct

In order to maintain an appropriate atmosphere conducive to accomplishing this mission, the following actions, as well as any other behavior that disrupts the public use of the Library, are prohibited. Anyone who violates these rules may be asked by staff to leave the Library premises. The Library reserves the right to immediately discharge a patron that is dangerous or in any way threatening library staff or other patrons.

Level One Offenses Level Two Offenses Level Three Offenses
To provide extraordinary services, spaces and experiences that promote literacy and learning, personal growth and limitless opportunities.

Level One Offenses

  1. For the following Level One offenses, after having first been warned by Library staff to cease the inappropriate behavior, a second or continued violation will result in access to the Library premises being denied for the remainder of the day. If the patron feels that their one‑day expulsion is unfair, Library staff will contact a supervisor who will make the final expulsion determination.
  2. If feasible, a patron who is asked to leave the premises will be given a copy of the Rules of Conduct and will be told that he/she is welcome back in the Library the next day as long as the patron abides by all of the Rules.
  3. Level One Prohibited Activities
    1. Smoking;
    2. Eating or drinking, except in authorized areas;
    3. Bringing pets into the building, except service animals;
    4. Sleeping;
    5. Placing feet on tables or chairs;
    6. Loitering (remaining in the Library without being engaged in purposes for which the Library was opened, such as reading, writing and quiet contemplation);
    7. Leaving individuals requiring care unattended for long periods of time or at closing;
    8. Loud, boisterous, or disruptive behavior;
    9. Bathing, shaving, washing clothes, or other inappropriate uses of Library restrooms;
    10. Bodily hygiene that is so offensive as to constitute a nuisance to patrons or staff;
    11. Operating any radio, telephone, or other device at a volume where others can hear it;
    12. Inadequate attire (shirts and shoes are required);
    13. Rollerskating, rollerblading, cycling or skateboarding on Library property;
    14. Failing to abide by all Library rules and regulations as set forth herein, or as posted or related by Library staff;
    15. Overt displays of gang behavior;
    16. Failure to abide by the rules regarding public access computers, which are:
  • Printing must be completed before the library closes;
  • Altering or abusing computer equipment and/or settings is prohibited;
  • Users need to be considerate and should refrain from displaying objectionable materials because Internet workstations are located in public areas.
  • Subsequent violations of Level One offenses may be considered a Level Two offense.

    • Level Two Offenses

    1. Upon violation of a Level Two offense, a patron will be evicted from the Library premises for an initial period of seven days. Library staff will give the patron a “Notice of Eviction” which advises the patron of their ability to appeal the eviction.
    2. Patrons may request a hearing to appeal a Level Two eviction by submitting the “Hearing Request Form,” along with a copy of the “Notice of Eviction” by mail and postmarked within forty‑eight hours of the date of the “Notice of Eviction” to the Director, Miami‑Dade Public Library System, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida 33130. Failure to make a timely request for a hearing will render the eviction decision final. The hearing will be held before one or more members of the Library Administration, who have had no prior involvement in the eviction decision.
    3. Level Two Prohibited Activities
      1. Repeated violations of Level One offenses;
      2. Harassing, intimidating, stalking or prolonged staring at patrons or staff;
      3. Using abusive language in a threatening manner to other people;
      4. Being drunk, intoxicated, or disorderly;
      5. Sexual misconduct;
      6. Damaging, destroying, or defacing Library property (the Library may require full restitution from patrons who damage or deface Library materials prior to restoring visitation);
      7. Refusing, upon leaving, to allow a librarian, security guard or other authorized employee to inspect a package, backpack or other container which is of sufficient size to contain a library book, provided that there is prominently displayed at each public entrance a sign which reads as follows:

        Warning – in order to assure that library books and other materials are not removed from this building without authorization, the library reserves the right to inspect all packages, backpacks, shopping bags, large handbags and other containers being taken out of the library. Entry into this library constitutes consent to search.

      8. Drinking alcoholic beverages in the Library;
      9. Engaging in any activity prohibited by law;
      10. Removing Library materials without checking them out.
    4. Subsequent violations of Level Two offenses may result in progressively longer evictions of up to a one‑year period.

    Level Three Offenses

    1. Upon violation of a Level Three offense, a patron will be evicted from the Library premises for a period of at least one year. Library staff will give the patron a “Notice of Eviction” which advises the patron of their ability to appeal the eviction.
    2. Patrons may request a hearing to appeal a Level Three eviction by submitting the “Hearing Request Form,” along with a copy of the “Notice of Eviction” by mail and postmarked within ten days of the date of the “Notice of Eviction,” to the Director, Miami‑Dade Public Library System, 101 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida 33130. The hearing of Level Three evictions will be held before an independent Hearing Examiner. Failure to make a timely request for a hearing will render the eviction decision final.
    3. Level Three offenses are those that involve physically threatening behavior.