How old is the child? If she is over about 10 (i.e. not really old enough to require parental supervision when shopping) then I'd treat her like anyone else who reads books all the time for free. If you'd ban them, then ban her. If you just make it hard on them to read a lot for free, then do that. If you leave them alone, then leave her alone. She can't help her age and she is an occasional customer.
If she really is too young (say, four to six) to be unsupervised then I'd have a talk with her parent. If they persist in letting her free range and she really is at risk from being unsupervised then you might actually consider calling social services.
She looks to be about 10. I've never banned someone before and I don't think I would want to do this to this girl. My problem is just that she's taking up one of our only two chairs every day for 2-1/2 hours! There is a library 7 short blocks away where she could do the same thing and not turn new books into used.
If it were me, I'd probably say something like "I see you in here a lot reading but not buying. Do you have a library card? You might want to consider getting one, so that we can sell our books to customers and you can keep reading. The library is just down this street.", or something? You could also try speaking with the parents...
Alas, the library is also not a babysitter, and it attracts a rougher teenaged crowd thanks to free net access, if it is anything like my local library.
I dunno, I used to be that kid (once in a while), only in libraries.
Is she making a mess? Getting in the way? Making the books unsellable? Being a danger to herself and others. I understand that the store has some liability issues, but, realistically, can you just semi-ignore her unless the store catches fire?
How old is she? Maybe you could have her help a bit. I'm serious, things like "Would you do me a favor? Could you put the Junie B. Jones books in order on the shelf?" or "You're usually here a little while, think you could fix the piles on that table?"
If she's the quiet, readerly type, she'd probably be glad to help, and be bright enough to alphabetize.
I don't know what the laws are where you are but where I am 10 years old is NOT old enough to be left alone without parental supervision.
you need to speak to her parents about it. Explain that you are not a babysitter and as such can not be held responsible for the safety of their child. If they are good parents it will be in their best interest to find something better for their daughter. perhaps putting it as bluntly as I would would not work..but I'm sure you can come up with something creative.
Or, call the cops. Not to haul her away, but if she's 10 years old, she shouldn't be left alone. That's an age, where if she was found wondering in a department store, security would be called and be considered a "lost" child. I mean, it sucks if it's a case of her being a latchkey kid and all (I was one), but she is someone's child and someone's responsibility...not yours.
Hmmm. You're right, she isn't my responsibility. Maybe I can speak with her father the next time I see him and tell him in a nice way that I can't be responsible for her while she's there?? Maybe I could say she has "been spending a lot of time without adult supervision in my store, and though I am happy to have her browse the books, I can't be responsible for her". Does that sound good? I don't want to cause bad feelings in our small neighborhood, so I'm a little nervous about how to handle all this.
That is good. If he gets stroppy you can add gently but firmly that you're talking to him specifically to prevent trouble, that you don't want to cause him any grief, because people keep asking you where are that child's parents and you don't know what to say, it looks bad.
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The only thing you can really do is see if your manager has a suggestion, because you kind of have to handle it the way they want you to.
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If she really is too young (say, four to six) to be unsupervised then I'd have a talk with her parent. If they persist in letting her free range and she really is at risk from being unsupervised then you might actually consider calling social services.
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Is she making a mess? Getting in the way? Making the books unsellable? Being a danger to herself and others. I understand that the store has some liability issues, but, realistically, can you just semi-ignore her unless the store catches fire?
How old is she? Maybe you could have her help a bit. I'm serious, things like "Would you do me a favor? Could you put the Junie B. Jones books in order on the shelf?" or "You're usually here a little while, think you could fix the piles on that table?"
If she's the quiet, readerly type, she'd probably be glad to help, and be bright enough to alphabetize.
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you need to speak to her parents about it. Explain that you are not a babysitter and as such can not be held responsible for the safety of their child. If they are good parents it will be in their best interest to find something better for their daughter. perhaps putting it as bluntly as I would would not work..but I'm sure you can come up with something creative.
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Or, call the cops. Not to haul her away, but if she's 10 years old, she shouldn't be left alone. That's an age, where if she was found wondering in a department store, security would be called and be considered a "lost" child. I mean, it sucks if it's a case of her being a latchkey kid and all (I was one), but she is someone's child and someone's responsibility...not yours.
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