DATE: January 18, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Library Services
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate $15,000 from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. to Support the Purchase of a Lactation Pod for the Downtown Library
RECOMMENDATION
That Council adopts the attached resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to accept and appropriate $15,000 from the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. to support the purchase of a Lactation Pod for the Downtown Library.
SUMMARY
Hayward Public Library (HPL) seeks to serve everyone in the City of Hayward, at every stage of life. The children’s area grew immensely in size when the City opened the new Downtown Library building, occupying a large part of the first floor. This area and other areas of the library are regularly used by families, including nursing mothers. Providing an enclosed and private space in the library where nursing mothers can be by themselves or with their infants or older children while breastfeeding or pumping makes for a safer, and often more comfortable, environment for the mother and children.
Library staff submitted a grant application for a Mamava ADA lactation pod to the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. (Foundation). The Foundation approved the Library’s application for funding and awarded HPL with $15,000 to help fund the purchase of the pod. The remaining funds necessary for the design, purchase, and delivery of the pod (up to $25,000) will come from the Furnishings, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) budget for the 21st Century Library that is included in the Calpine Library Construction Fund.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
HPL seeks to serve everyone in the City of Hayward, at every stage of life, in a safe and comfortable environment. When the new Downtown Library was designed, one major area of growth was the children’s area. The children’s section grew immensely in size when the City opened the new Downtown Library building, occupying much of the lower floor. The new Storytime room is a focal point of the children’s area, and is surrounded by many new toys, play areas, and learning spaces to accompany the greatly expanded selection of reading materials.
Before the closure due to COVID, the library had record numbers of visitors to see the new space and the expanded collection, including a large number of young mothers. As we start returning to more library programming for children, we expect to see an increase in the number of new mothers visiting the library. Providing an enclosed and private space in the library where nursing mothers can be by themselves or with their infants or older children while breastfeeding or pumping makes for a safer, and often more comfortable, environment for the mother and children. The lactation pod would provide just such a space and would be a great addition to the services offered to Hayward families. The pod would be open for use by any nursing mother walking into the library.
While there are different options for lactation spaces, many utilize rooms in an existing building, or are designed for outdoor use. These qualities make them better designed for office staff, rather than for the public. However, the Mamava pods, like the one HPL plans to install, can work in an indoor space using just one electrical hookup, are moveable if needed, have an online app for easy reservations, and have easy to clean surfaces.
The larger Mamava ADA pod is the preferred option for the Downtown Library, and the details on this product were provided to the Foundation as part of a grant application. The Foundation approved the Library’s application for funding and awarded HPL with $15,000 to help fund the purchase of the pod. The remaining funds necessary for the design, purchase, and delivery of the pod (up to $25,000) will come from the FF&E budget for the 21st Century Library that is included in the Calpine Library Construction Fund.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item supports the Quality of Life priority outlined in the Council’s Strategic Roadmap.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will be responsible for servicing and maintenance of the unit; however, this cost is considered minimal and will be absorbed by the Library’s operating budget on an ongoing basis.
NEXT STEPS
If Council adopts the resolution, staff will work with the Foundation to accept the funds and purchase the lactation pod.
Prepared by: Brad Olson, Management Analyst II
Recommended by: Jayanti Addleman, Library Director
Approved by:
Kelly McAdoo, City Manager