To create an equitable and welcoming environment for all, Chapel Hill Public Library installed coinless period product dispensers in each of its five public restrooms. Pads and tampons are accessible to patrons of all ages and genders at no cost.
Recognizing the diverse needs of the Chapel Hill community, the library has taken this step to support individuals facing economic challenges, help reduce the stigma associated with period products, particularly for transgender or non-binary patrons, and allow all patrons to access period products without leaving the library.
Chapel Hill’s Aunt Flow Dispensers
The Chapel Hill project’s goal is to provide a needed product to people, whether they are facing economic challenges or are uncomfortable approaching someone for help because of the stigma surrounding menstruation, they said.
Susan Brown, the library’s director, spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck about the service and feature — saying she was inspired by Aunt Flow’s pitch and saw how the company’s missions aligned with the library’s goals.
Providing free period products is part of our ongoing effort to truly make this library a place for everyone. One of our organizational values is hospitality, and we aim to anticipate the needs of our users. Pads and tampons are a need for so many who visit us, and offering them free of charge demonstrates our commitment to ensuring a comfortable and inclusive environment for all who visit.
Chapel Hill Public Library Director Susan Brown
The Tampon Tax and Lack of Accessibility Solutions
Brown credited Library Experiences Assistant Taylor Bugge with much of the implementation of the idea. Not only does providing tampons and pads help improve comfort and keep patrons in the library, but the free dispensers improve equity for its visitors.
Menstrual products are expensive. In North Carolina and many other states they are taxed on top of their retail price as ‘luxury goods.’ Providing these products may be the difference between whether a patron can stay at the library to take advantage of our resources and programs, or missing out on these experiences due to a lack of access.
Chapel Hill Public Library Experiences Assistant Taylor Bugge
Normalizing the Conversation
Brown said she believes while the initiative furthers the library’s individual hospitality goals, it sets an example of how other institutions can provide such services. She added that having the products in all bathrooms helps combat stigma around menstruation, who needs such products, and periods as a topic of conversation.
Just like we provide free books and [can help] if you need a paper clip or some scotch tape, this is kind of in that same vein. And it’s also, hopefully, trying to set a new standard and say, ‘This is how a public institution could operate.’
Susan Brown
The dispensers were installed on May 2 and feature products with sustainable, plastic-free packaging, further aligning the library’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
All five dispensers in its public restrooms cost the Chapel Hill Public Library $2,245 — which was paid for through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. With its purchase, the library got a one-year supply of tampons and pads and will stock the machines with funds from its own budget in the coming years.
A Force For Change
Chapel Hill Public Library joins a growing number of libraries, schools, and other public organizations across the nation that have implemented similar initiatives, recognizing the importance of providing free access to period products.
By taking this step, the library hopes to inspire other institutions to follow suit and create more inclusive spaces for their communities.
