[Libs-Or] The restroom question

Fri May 6 11:54:29 PDT 2016

Thank you – this is really helpful.

Carol Dinges
Lebanon Public Library

From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of David Brown
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2016 11:35 AM
To: Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney
Cc: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] The restroom question

Here's an answer I received from a person in the Trans Community who messaged me concerning this. It includes a comment directed towards a cis gendered person who had responded with a response more along the lines of the need to keep the Children's Room for children only, but there are other things to consider in the comment as well.

"With the gender neutral bathroom at your [sic] library, I like that you guys are thinking along those lines at your library. I’ve been brainstorming on your signage issue for a few here and without any personal experience, all I have is thought experiments essentially.
IF some sort of signage, then Kayla Kim does bring up a good point at an unfortunately interesting time. I think the sign should not have any reference to the gender neutral bathrooms being “in the children’s area”. One option would be a general sign by the male & female bathrooms, “Questions or concerns? We’re here to help!” But then if your aim is only really to accommodate nonbinary & gnc people, then a direct sign simply saying something like “ ___ ____ Library also has a gender neutral restroom available.” That’s not quite right, maybe a bit more concise would be better but yeah
____ ____ Library also has a gender neutral restroom available” -- was trying to think of a better word than “has” while avoiding words like “provides”. Anyway, I’d just avoid any words that suggest or imply special treatment or “accommodation” of any sort."

Just wanted to throw this out there for more consideration.

David Adkins-Brown
adkinsbr at usc.edu<mailto:adkinsbr at usc.edu>
greenlionrampant at gmail.com<mailto:greenlionrampant at gmail.com>

"As my dear departed friend Lotus Weinstock used to say: "I used to wanna change the world. Now I just wanna leave the room with a little dignity." " - Justin Bond

On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 2:01 PM, Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney <kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org<mailto:kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org>> wrote:
The restroom in the children's area is primarily used by children and their caregivers, although it's not restricted only to those folks. Our children's area is also not restricted to children & families. I had considered the potential for folks coming into the children's area who wouldn't normally, but since we haven't historically restricted that area or that restroom, I'm not sure I see too much of an issue; our large meeting room is at that end of the library, and thus people who are using that room often use the children's room restroom, for example.

Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney, MLIS
Library Director
Driftwood Public Library
801 SW Hwy 101, #201
Lincoln City, OR 97367
541-996-1251<tel:541-996-1251> (desk)
541-996-1262<tel:541-996-1262> (fax)
www.driftwoodlib.org<http://www.driftwoodlib.org/>

>>> Susanne Lohkamp <littlenel.lohkamp7 at gmail.com<mailto:littlenel.lohkamp7 at gmail.com>> 5/5/2016 2:53 PM >>>
Is the family bathroom available to children/parents/caregivers so that they don't have to leave the area to use the bathrooms in the 'adult' areas? If so, then you might think about whether you want other adults coming into the children's area who wouldn't normally do so.
I work in a large public library where the children's area- computers, ipads and bathrooms are reserved for children under 14 with their parents/caregivers. It might complicate the situation if you opened the bathrooms only up to all ages.

On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 11:36 AM, Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney <kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org<mailto:kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org>> wrote:
In light of the controversy surrounding so-called "bathroom bills" in various states, I'm curious if any libraries currently have signage regarding the availability of gender neutral bathrooms, or are considering such signage?
My library has the usual multi-stall men's and women's restrooms, but we also have a single occupancy family restroom at the other end of the building in the children's area. I'm trying to decide if it would make sense to post something informing folks who would be more comfortable using a gender neutral single-occupancy restroom that one is available. I'm thinking it could also include information about the availability of a changing table in that bathroom, since the main restrooms do not have a changing area.
Any thoughts? Any particularly good wording you've used or seen?

Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney, MLIS
Library Director
Driftwood Public Library
801 SW Hwy 101, #201
Lincoln City, OR 97367
541-996-1251<tel:541-996-1251> (desk)
541-996-1262<tel:541-996-1262> (fax)
www.driftwoodlib.org<http://www.driftwoodlib.org/>

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