Caregivers looking for spaces to breastfeed, pump, or bottle feed now have another option at the Main Library. Our newly installed and ADA-compliant Mamava lactation suite is now open in the Children’s Services Area for first-come, first-served use.
“We are so excited to be able to offer this amenity,” says Jennifer Norborg, Manager of Children’s Services. “But we do want to emphasize that we are a breastfeeding-friendly institution. This is simply another option for those who prefer additional privacy while nursing or pumping. We invite patrons to breastfeed wherever they feel comfortable in our building.”
Privacy for those who want it
Nursing mothers are welcome—and have the right—to breastfeed anywhere in the library. More about Illinois breastfeeding laws »
Still, Norborg says she’s long seen a demand for private spaces, including for nursing moms in the Children’s Services Area who may also have older children to keep an eye on. “It’s just a no-brainer to have here,” she says.
Like the library’s Book Bike, our new nursing pod was financed through proceeds from the Fallon Family Fund, an endowment fund focused on helping deliver cutting-edge projects and resources for all of our community’s children and families.
To best meet our community’s needs, we intentionally chose the ADA-compliant version, which accommodates wheelchairs. Inside, users will find grab bars, benches, a mirror, a shelf, coat hooks, a USB port, and outlets. (Plus select library books!)
How it works
Patrons who wish to use the pod for breastfeeding, pumping, or bottle feeding can simply ask the staff at the Children’s Services desk for a keypad code to open the pod. Users also can download the Mamava app to unlock the pod, as well as find other user-submitted lactation spaces.
The nursing pod is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Questions? Contact us or stop by to check it out in person!
