Over the past two decades, an increasing number of American children are left in self-care after school each day. Parents of these latchkey children often turn to the library as a safe place for their children to go. The purpose of this study was to determine whether public libraries have responded since 1990 to the call put forward by concerned…

The goal of this research was to find out if libraries across the country have applied for and received Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) grants to fund latchkey programs. Through the use of a questionnaire sent to all of the state library agencies in the United States, data was collected by structured and open-ended questions. The…

Describes a survey of public libraries that addressed the presence of latchkey children in libraries, library policies regarding this population, and services that are or should be offered. In-depth interviews with 10 librarians explored ideal responses to latchkey children, advice on library services, and community services for children. (14…

Noting that as many as 15 million elementary school children are regularly left without adult supervision for several hours after school each day until an adult returns home from work, this book focuses on what is happening and what could happen to latchkey children in terms of the community as a whole, as well as in regard to public libraries.…

Based on a pilot program developed in the Los Angeles (California) Public Library, this guide provides the materials and information needed for introducing a "Grandparents and Books" (GAB) program in a public library. The Los Angeles program was designed to bring together the city's elderly population with children who have no one to…