Created: 03/28/2017
Revised: 07/30/2024

Policy owner: Director of Community Services

Policy

Nursing patrons are welcome to chestfeed their children in any Multnomah County Library, as allowed under Oregon law. The library uses “chestfeeding” in place of “breastfeeding” herein to include all people, including transgender, nonbinary or gender nonconforming people, in this policy. Nursing patrons will not be asked to move to a quieter or more private location or to "cover up" because another patron is uncomfortable with chestfeeding. 

Select locations have lactation rooms available for nursing patrons to use; see below for guidance on access and use of the lactation rooms.

Rationale

Oregon law allows people, including transgender, nonbinary or gender nonconforming people, to chestfeed their children in a public place. This protection is needed because people chestfeeding in a public place may be asked to stop, leave or cover up, causing embarrassment and stigmatization. To learn more about chestfeeding, please visit the Oregon Health Authority website.

Multnomah County supports and encourages chestfeeding because of its benefits for parent and baby.

Application

• If a patron is uncomfortable with another patron chestfeeding their child, assist the complaining patron with relocating to a different location within the library and let them know that the patron is allowed to chestfeed in the library under Oregon law. If the complaining patron's communications with or actions toward the nursing person violates the library rules, that behavior should be addressed through the library’s process for rule violations.
• Do not ask the nursing patron to move to a less visible location or to "cover up."  The rights of the nursing person under the law are clear and take precedence over others' possible discomfort.
• If a nursing patron does ask for a quieter or more private place to nurse their child, where available, let them know about the lactation rooms; otherwise you may allow them to use a community room for that purpose if space is available. Library staff should never prompt a nursing person to move to a private place or cover up.

Lactation Rooms

Lactation rooms provide a private space for feeding infants or expressing milk. The lactation rooms are for nursing patrons and staff members to use, and are available all hours the library is open. 

There are lactation rooms available for nursing patrons at Holgate Library and Midland Library. The library will have lactation rooms available for nursing patrons at the following locations after construction is complete: Albina Library, Belmont Library, East County Library, and Northwest Library. Some locations will also have lactation rooms for staff use in staff-only areas. 

Rules for patron access and use of lactation rooms

• Library lactation rooms are to be used by patrons expressing milk or nursing only.
• These rooms are not intended for:
  • Use as a lounge, study room, or meeting room
  • Social gatherings
• The room is available on a first-come, first-served basis during library hours. Patrons should ask a staff member for assistance with accessing the room. A key to the lactation room is kept at the nearest service desk.
• If the lactation room is occupied, library staff should provide alternative options.
• Time restrictions: 60 minutes maximum
• It is the responsibility of everyone using the lactation room to clean up after themselves. If the room is not clean, staff should be notified immediately. 
• Personal items may not be left in the room. Patrons using the space are responsible for personal accessories.
• The library is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.
• Occupancy is limited to two adults and accompanying children.

Guidance for staff on managing the lactation rooms:

Lactation rooms at library locations are designed to provide a private space for patrons to express milk and nurse. These spaces are to be accessible, easy to use, and managed in a way that creates as few barriers for usage as possible. Staff should not verify whether the patron requesting access to lactation rooms is a parent or has a baby with them. Patrons do not need to disclose their gender identities or expressions, parental status or privacy needs to access the lactation rooms. 

Managing and monitoring of the lactation rooms:

• Staff will provide patrons with the key to the lactation rooms upon request. The key will be kept at the nearest service desk, and a spare key will be kept with the other building and room keys at the location.
• When giving the patron the key to the space, staff should remind them that there is a 60 minute limit and staff may do a welfare check on the space after 60 minutes and may ask the person to leave the space in order to preserve the space for its intended use and make it available for others to use. 
• If the room is in use, the staff can suggest other areas of the library or provide an estimate of when the room may be available. 
• The door should remain locked when not in use by a patron. Staff should make sure the door is locked and the room is clean after each patron use.
• Checking on the space will be done by those who are roving or orbiting as part of their rounds of the floor.
• Similar to the bathrooms, staff may need to do a welfare check on the occupant of the lactation room if they have been in the room for an extended period (more than 60 minutes) or staff have some other indication that the patron may need assistance. Staff should always knock and announce that they are staff. 

Cleaning of the lactation rooms: 

Lactation rooms should be cleaned regularly, similar to a break room or restroom, and included in the building's regular cleaning schedule. Daily cleaning may include:

• Wiping down surfaces
• Emptying trash
• Restocking supplies
• Sanitizing surfaces like chairs, tables, sinks, doorknobs, counters, and floors
• Burgeon play pieces in lactation room should be cleaned with regularly scheduled cleaning of all locations’ Burgeon play pieces

For nursing staff, see Personnel Rule 2-75: Support for Milk Expression and Nursing in the Workplace and the county’s page: Breastfeeding and Work for more information.