|
Taylor Arnold Library Services Specialist II |
510 N Broadway Billings, MT 59101 |
We have plastic tubs in all our public restrooms with menstruation pads, baby diapers, and adult diapers. We put adult diapers for “men” in the Men’s restrooms and ones for “women” in the Women’s restrooms. There is a gender neutral restroom in our café and one in our kids room, but neither one of those are stocked with supplies. We do have diapers at the kids desk which we can give to folks if they ask.
No roadblocks! Signage is pretty simple – saying what is included in the bins. I will try to remember to take a photo of the bin signage later today or tomorrow.
Be well,
Sheri Miklaski
Community Outreach Librarian
Georgetown Public Library
TALL Texans Class of 2021
“Change is the only constant in life.” - Heraclitus
From: abos-o...@googlegroups.com <abos-o...@googlegroups.com>
On Behalf Of Arnold, Taylor
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 12:53 PM
To: abos-o...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [ABOS-Outreach] Community Cabinet/Hygiene Products
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]
Hi all,
I wanted to reach out and gather information from other libraries that host anything similar to a community cabinet/hygiene cabinet. Over the summer our library made hygiene kits that we handed out on our Bike Library. The kits were supported by community donations and overall they seemed to be appreciated. Currently we are in the process of creating a permanent cabinet that will be stocked with hygiene products, socks and other comfort items. Our Childrens and Teens department have similar cabinets in place so this one will be geared towards adults but available for all.
I am curious if any folks here have instituted something similar in their libraries, perhaps with a focus on adult patrons. I would love to hear about any roadblocks you faced, appropriate signage and items you made available.
Of course, projects like these will differ across libraries but I think it would be valuable to gather any insight!
Thank you,
Taylor
|
Taylor Arnold Library Services Specialist II |
510 N Broadway Billings, MT 59101 |
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ABOS-Outreach" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to
ABOS-Outreac...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/PH0PR09MB7770D2D5826BB95801FB3606C5129%40PH0PR09MB7770.namprd09.prod.outlook.com.
Taylor,
We’re similarly looking into this. We have a small pilot existing in our Teen Space—the Teen Advisory Board took this on as their service project so we have a “comfort cabinet” of hygiene items that’s exclusively for teens, by teens. Once those grant-funded items are gone though we do not have a continuation plan. Given the orientation of our teen department there hasn’t been issues with abuse of the system or adults/children helping themselves.
For the greater group: I did have conversations with local health insurance reps who regularly hand out hygiene/ first aid bags as part of their outreach swag and there is some level of interest in being a funder since it gives them free advertising.
Alyssa Johnson (she/her)
Outreach Services Manager
Erie County Public Library
160 E. Front Street | Erie, PA 16507
From: abos-o...@googlegroups.com [mailto:abos-o...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Arnold, Taylor
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 1:53 PM
To: abos-o...@googlegroups.com
--
Our library system partners with The Period Project to provide menstrual supplies in our public restrooms. Our local chapter has been very good to work with.
Teresa Lanford, Access Manager
Greenville County Library System
25 Heritage Green Place
Greenville, SC 29601
864-527-9254 | tlan...@greenvillelibrary.org
From: abos-o...@googlegroups.com [mailto:abos-o...@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of Johnson, Alyssa
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 2:05 PM
To: 'Arnold, Taylor' <arn...@billingsmt.gov>; abos-o...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ABOS-Outreach] RE: Community Cabinet/Hygiene Products
CAUTION: This message was sent from someone outside of the Greenville County Library System.
Do not click on any links or open any attachments unless you know without a doubt the content is safe. Never reply to an outside message with any personal information. Do not alter or enter your login
information via any emails you receive. Do not send money or gift cards. If you need assistance, call GCLS IT urgent help at x2244.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/DAE800689BAD814F8C2B89C5C26C5A6EEE52395E%40EX2.eriecountygov.local.
Email messages sent to and from the Greenville County Library System may be subject to discovery under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act.
A period should end a sentence, not a customer’s access to the public library. Over the next few weeks, ASCPL, working with Ohio’s Aunt Flow (https://goauntflow.com/), will be installing (thanks, John Hughes!) dispensers of free menstrual product in women’s and family restrooms in your locations. Library Access. Period. is part of a growing movement to support equity of opportunity and menstrual dignity as a basic human right. Libraries in Ohio have been engaged in this effort, including the University of Akron’s Bierce Library, Columbus Metro Library, and Marysville Public Library.
The vast majority of women in the US report that they have started their period unexpectedly in public without the supplies they needed. With the installation of dispensers of free product, the Library will address the menstrual inequity experienced by girls, women, and gender non-binary customers that all-too-often means the difference between remaining at the Library—for job searching and work skill development, the filing of aid applications, microbusiness development, school-related research and assignment completion, participation in personal enrichment events, attendance at after-school snack programs, and more--and a quick departure.
The community response to menstrual equity is growing (https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2021/11/30/akron-law-free-feminine-hygiene-products-city-bathrooms-tara-mosley-pink-tax-cleveland-ann-arbor/8793936002/ ) but is as yet insufficient to meet the need. Organizations serving the homeless and those addressing food insecurity offer free menstrual product as it is available. (It is important to note that government grocery-assistance programs do not provide for menstrual product.) But the recognition that menstrual product is as necessary in public restrooms as toilet paper, soap, and a means to dry one’s hands is far from universal. Although the Library’s installation of dispensers does not entirely eliminate the inequity that results, it does make it possible to ensure that all of the Library’s customers have an equal opportunity to use Library resources.
Diana Marthey
Early Childhood Librarian
Mobile Services
Akron-Summit County Public Library
60 S. High St.
Akron, Ohio 44326
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/SA1PR09MB83978794CDAB08D310D8F86AE9129%40SA1PR09MB8397.namprd09.prod.outlook.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/CAF%2BnC_CfMhZO0Cf6ot%3Dt-xeVFy7Ao%2BnCT2Qfh1xYNu%3DkMbrAEw%40mail.gmail.com.
Yours sincerely,
Karla
Karla Boeddinghaus Umland
Assistant Director
20 High St., P.O. Box 232
Stonington, CT 06378
860-535-0658
www.stoningtonfreelibrary.org
Please Note: The information contained in this e-mail and any
attachments hereto is intended only for the personal and confidential use of
the designated recipients. If the reader/recipient of this message is not the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this e-mail
and all attachments hereto in error and that any review, dissemination,
distribution or copying of this e-mail or any of its attachments is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the
sender immediately by e-mail and destroy the original message received. Thank
you.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/CABBZgPTNMHSP6UpwCqyu9_uZ1P3qUt%2B9RYY5%3DqZF9Q%2BH6ZE_RA%40mail.gmail.com.