Employee Criminal and Child Abuse Background Checks Policy

Highlights
Purpose

This policy is intended to make clear that all existing and prospective library personnel employed on or after July 1, 2008 by libraries affiliated with the Cumberland County Library System, and who will have significant likelihood of regular contact with children in the form of care, guidance, supervision or training, are required to undergo criminal police and child abuse background checks in accordance with Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Act. The policy is also intended to provide clear direction on screening library personnel whose background checks report enumerated offenses. The policy is not intended to create any rights for any person, to obligate the library system and its member libraries to act at any time or in any manner, or to establish any responsibility or liability of the library system and its member libraries. 

In addition, the enumeration of certain offenses in the policy is not intended to limit the authority of the library to terminate for conviction of any other crimes or for any other reason whatsoever. All employment is considered at the will of the library. 

Requirements for Background Checks

All library system personnel are required to undergo a:

An applicant may submit a copy of the required information with an application for employment. Administrators shall maintain a copy of the required information and shall require applicants to produce the original document prior to employment. (The original copy of the background check is kept by staff member who is the subject of the background check. The library system member employing the person is provided a copy of the documentation for its personnel files.)

Ground for Denying Employment

In no case shall an applicant be hired permanently if:

1. The Department of Public Welfare has verified that the the applicant is named as a perpetrator of afounded report of child abuse.
2. The applicant's criminal history record information indicates the applicant has been convicted of one or more offenses as designated under Title 18 or an equivalent crime under Federal law, or the law of another state.

This policy is subject to change at any time without notice. Updates to the policy may be obtained from the Library System.


Page reviewed March 1, 2012