Can a Mom Leave Her Kid Alone at the Library for Three Minutes?

Libiarian not nanny, was showing concern. A five year old does not need to call the shots.
When i was in a local store i saw a doting dad smiling at his daughters following them till i looked at his eyes. He was an evil man. So i followed by the two pubessent girls. The man was not with them at all. At the check out i asked the grandma if she knew the man and she did not. A shopper gose where the goods are, toy store, play ground, kiddy libiary. Ask John Walsh how quickly things can happen,

Lose the bubble people! I take risks knowing that I would rather die than live in paranoia.

I've been to war twice, and 3 of 4 schools I've attended have had violent attacks. If I were scared of everything I've actually seen happen to others (neglecting what I've only read about or imagined) I would be in a bomb shelter curled in the fetal position moaning.

Libraries have policies regarding unattended children and the librarian was most likely following those policies. In addition, it is illegal in some states to leave children unattended in public places, regardless of the amount of time. These laws and policies were created to protect children. Trivializing them because of being inconvenienced does everyone a disservice.

I would have to agree with the librarian. I know it is hard to face the reality that we live in a time when we have to be a little paranoid to insure our children's saftey. Although there was not anyone in the room at the time it just takes a matter of seconds for someone to come in to the room. The librarian should be commended for caring.

in this day and age? you mean a day and age where children have never been safer? Where fewer children die by accident than ever before? Where reported cases of stranger abduction and sexual assault have decreased? That day and age??? The world is not more dangerous now than it was 20 or 30 years ago. Instead of basing your views on your evening news, try checking out crime statistics. Even then, the most likely perpetrator against a child is someone s/he knows and trusts - the neighbor, her uncle...not the phantom waiting outside the library until he gets the feeling that there is a child alone in the room with a librarian.

As a children's librarian I would never recommend that you leave your child alone in a public place. Time after time when parents leave the room, "just for a minute," the child will panic, begin crying, or will try to follow the parent. They may then end up in another part of the library, be disoriented, lost or may begin conversing with another adult while the Librarian is answering a telephone, or a question for another person who happened to arrive while you were gone.
What if you were delayed at the circulation desk, lost track of time, or unable to get back. What if there was a fire drill, or some other emergency? Don't take a chance. Your child is too precious. Soon your child will be old enough to be in a public place alone, and you should be sure to teach her how to respond in emergencies, and how to conduct herself with safety (not fear) in mind.
Librarians do their best to guarantee the safety of the children in the room, but they have a multitude of responsibilities and may not even be able to stay at your child's side, and you shouldn't expect them to do so.

To leave your young child for one minute is too much in the world we live in . She was just plain stupid. Has she heard about all the child abductions that took place when a parent turned their head for a moment. I understand you cannot put your child in a bubble but you don't have to put them in danger either and this was just plain ignorant.

I work in a library.. And, I do work in the 'children's room' quite often... the writer of this article..can't be serious... her attitude is really quite typical of the attitudes of parents who come in there...We cannot be responsible for taking care of these children..that the parent leaves to roam all over the library... we are NOT

In my opinion, what is equally disturbing as leaving the child is the fact that the "adult" in this situation left the decision making to the 5-year old child. How difficult would it have been for the Mom to simply say to the child, "come with me to check out this book and then we will go pick up your sister." Personally, I believe the Mom was trying to take the easy way out -- avoid confrontation with the child -- and felt it was perfectly acceptable to place the burden of responsibility on the Librarian.

Some years ago I left two of my young daughters in the library children's room with a librarian on duty while I scooted down the street to pick up another daughter. When I returned a strange man was sitting between them looking at books with them. I was startled as the kids had all been told time and again not to speak to strangers. I looked around for the librarian and when I turned back, the man had disappeared. I asked the librarian if he was an employee and she asked, "What man?" When I asked the girls what the man was saying, they said he told them that they should go downstairs with him as their mother was waiting for them there! Needless to say, I never left them out of my sight in public places again.

Oh come on!!! The library was empty. The librarian was well able to watch the child for 3 minutes. Give the mom a break. Can't we all help each other a little bit to make this world a better place. I say we can. Step off of your soap box into a kinder gentler world, lady.

Lets not even discuss the adults - It is AMAZING what a child can do in 5 minutes, doesn't matter what age. Wander away, follow another kid, chase after a friend they see, need the bathroom and go look for it. You may THINK you can trust your kid, but any experienced Mom will tell you "ha!".

I once left a can of paint opened on the island in my kitchen with the paint brush on top. I said "no touching", grabbed the phone to order pizza. I went to get my purse for the credit card and in 2 - TWO - minutes my 2.5 year old son had climbed up, grabbed the brush and managed to paint every surface he could...including the diningroom furniture.

In the state of Maryland, you cannot leave a child under the age of 9 unattended without a responsible adult. A librarian is NOT a responsible adult for a stranger's child. The librarian was right.

Kevin's response to Eileen sounds like one of those nuts with whom no thinking person would ever leave a plant, let alone a child.
The paranoia and the ranting leads me to believe that he is likely in need of some sort of psychotropic medication--or and adjustment, if he is already on it. How sad for him.

My sister works at a library and I cannot believe the HORRIBLE incidents that happen there, a very unsafe place.

The vast majority of kids who are harmed in our society are harmed by family members!!! So I suggest your child never be alone in your home either. It's parents like you that have contributed to the me first, I'll tell my mommy, fear-the-world generation of computer, ipod, cell phone addicted kids we have today. Kick your kids off the couch and out into the yard or - i know it's dangerous - someone else's yard or even a park. GASP!!!

You are SO right, Eileen--And what is up with the stupid mom ASKING a 5-year-old, "Do you WANT to come with me?!?" Who is the ADULT here?!? It's almost like she WANTED her to maybe get snatched. If she only had to do something for 3 min, what's the big deal with taking her child by the hand and gently saying,"Please put the book down now, time to go." DUHHH! The writer of this article is an idiot and obviously never reads the newspaper or watches Nancy Grace. Something happens with children being in danger or worse EVERY WEEK, if not every day!~! I had my son at age 41 and you better bet I watched him every second and trusted NO ONE! I wouldn't even let my husband take him out of town without me! (We all know MEN never watch their kids 100% of the time as Moms do) You are so right on, Eileen!

If I had a nickel every time my parents left me in a car to get something (and in the summer!!) They trusted me to have the common sense to 1. roll down the window if it felt a little stuffy 2. not run pell-nell through the parking lot between cars 3. not get in a car with a person I didn't know 4. start driving the car 5. start mooning other cars 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.......
Can I stop now? Kids need to learn to be accountable, to be aware of their surroundings, and have some common sense. That's what being taken away from kids more and more these days.

okay, if there is anothe radult there, and all she is doing is checking out a BOOK, what is the problem? the librarian is there and its not like some pedopihle is going to come in in that time and steal her child in right then and there when there is somebody watching them RIGHT THERE and there are probable police around because i mean come on, its new york!

I have to speak for the librarians, booksellers, etc....I was a bookseller for 15 years. Although we'd love to be considered as trustworthy enough to leave your children with us....the truth of the matter is...it's not our job. We have to perform the duties our bosses and companies lay out for us....such as stocking, cleaning, picking up after customers, straightening shelves, etc...which may and can include leaving the area to get more books or put books away in another area....we simply cannot watch your children, too, we've a job to do.

You free range parents are idiots. What makes you think the librarian is "safe" for you to leave your child with. That is a stranger. Did they go through a background check? Even if they did, what if your child is the first a pedofile chooses to go after? You free range people are the first ones crying on the media, "I only left my child for a minute." Quit being lazy and protect your child. By the way... I never would leave any of my four children with a parent like you.