SGCLIB provides space for breastfeeding mothers
STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve County Library has received a grant from the Department of Health and Senior Services to help create a space for new mothers to breastfeed or pump during their visit to the Library and Community Center. The space located just inside the foyer of the library now houses a Mother’s Room which nursing mothers can relax in to breast feed, pump or use as a quiet area while visiting the library or Community Center Complex.
“When I started in this position a year ago it housed a broken copier a cabinet and some miscellaneous junk. After recycling the copier and moving the other items into storage we were left with a small area that had no real purpose or use other than a catchall” stated Shawn Long Library Director. “It sat empty for a few months until we came up with the idea of utilizing it as a nursing area.”
“When I brought the idea up to our board, all of them were very excited about the new purpose and one board member mentioned checking the health department for a possible funding source,” Long continued.
That funding source came in the form of a grant which paid for the door lock, furniture, sound machine, clock and other small items. The room also includes information related to breast feeding and has free information to assist them with their pumping routine.
With a focus on young families and underserved populations the library is working on being as inclusive as possible with their programs and facility so giving purpose to a space that has been more of an eyesore is a welcome change that will be accessible by patrons, employees and visitors to any location within the community center complex for years to come.
