The Rights of Youth in the Public Library Policy

The Hamilton Public Library provides library service for youth to support and foster a lifelong love of reading and learning. The Hamilton Public Library Board fully endorses the Children’s Rights in the Public Library adopted at the Ontario Library Association Annual General Meeting, November 1998 and the Teen Rights in the Public Library adopted at the Ontario Library Association General Meeting, June 2010.  

Ontario Library Association’s Position on Children’s Rights in the Public Library 

Children in Public Libraries have the right to:  

  1. Intellectual freedom. 

  1. Equal access to the full range of services and materials available to other users.  

  1. A full range of materials, services and programs specifically designed and developed to meet their needs.  

  1. Adequate funding for collections and services related to population, use and local community needs.  

  1. A library environment that complements their physical and developmental stages.  

  1. Trained and knowledgeable staff specializing in children's services.  

  1. Welcoming, respectful, supportive service from birth through the transition to adult user.  

  1. An advocate who will speak on their behalf to the library administration, library board, municipal council and community to make people aware of the goals of children's services. 

  1. Library policies written to include the needs of the child.