My dd wanted to join the summer library scheme and so we went along yesterday with my older ds yesterday. We realised before we went that we could not find my dd's library card but had mine . So in we went and I spoke to a librarian who confirmed I would need to purchase a new one. My children dd age 7 and ds age 10 and I went to children's section where I checked my purse and realised I had no cash to purchase new card . My children were looking at books at this point. I explained the problem of having no cash but knew a cash point was just next to library so asked were they going to come with my to get cash or staying to look at books . They wanted to stay so I nipped to cash machine next door to get cash . I was no more than 3 minutes. In that time a librarian had seen me leave go up to the children and asked where mummy was and how old they were. My ds spoke for both my children and confirmed I had nippedyo bank outside toget money. When I entered in I went to librarian who asked me was I aware that it was against the law to leave children under 12 alone and made me feel like a negligent parent giving me a lecture . The library is tiny and quite empty. Both librarians were aware that I had asked about a card and my children felt happy to stay at library whilst i popped outside. Was I being negligent? I was quite upset and left the library. I would never have left them if they had not felt comfortable and would happily taken them outside if they had wanted that too.
I understood that there was no set age limit and if it posed a risk etc but felt I had assessed the situation . Please tell me was a negligent mum ?