Sanitary products in library

[dogsdinnerlady]

On the back of the loo door in my library this morning is a poster offering free sanitary products for anyone who needs them. Just ask at the desk, it says. Really? Who is going to do that? I see schools are going to provide free pads and tampons for all pupils soon. With libraries closing to save money and schools having to ask parents to pay for books, it seems the budget can accommodate free sanitary products for millions of women.
I am probably in the minority in thinking this is taking the welfare state too far.

OP is this because the vast majority of posters don't agree with you?

I worked in a few offices were there was a ladies loo on each floor where there was a basket with hairspray, sanitary protection, hair clips and a few other random bits for people to use. I thought it was a good idea so the last place where there was one I chucked in some tampons.

YABVU - I can't see this as being anything other than a good thing. If you were homeless and/or had no money, wouldn't you want this to be available? Consider the alternative.

@Atthebottomofthegarden our library doesn't have public toilets because unfortunately they had issues of anti social behaviour: drug taking, drug selling (would leave cash/drugs above the ceiling tiles) sex etc. They don't have the staff resource to manage safely. It's not laziness in terms of cleaning (in this case at least).

I don't think anyone agreed with the OP.

No woman should have to worry about getting sanitary protection

The sanitary products will have been donated. There are several charities that do this.

Caring, aren't you OP?
The library, being a free, warm place in the community, is just the place for it.

Are you a man?

Patronising, simplistic arguments
What you mean like your first post? You’ve had your arse handed to you and rightly so.

They have them at the library in the city centre but to be honest, most the users are homeless and vulnerably housed these days, been a huge shift in the 12 years I've been dropping things in for work. You no longer see children there.

I was really puzzled by the thing about hospital wards providing san pro. We already do. Though they are horrible, so we tell parents to buy them from the chemist downstairs.

They don't for adults. When I was admitted as an emergency and my DP was still travelling from work, the ward had to give me a large incontinence pad as they said they did not have sanitary pads.

Quite right, OP. Down with kindness. Where will end, otherwise? Nip it in the bud right now I say.

how lovely for you that you can take care of your sanitary needs. Not everyone is so fortunate.

I noticed in my library a box that has been placed there for sanitary donations. I now give every time I go in as I think it's a good thing to help those who need it.

I would assume your library does what mine does, but if not, and they take it from their budget, it's a great thing to do.

Why do you care about people being helped?

I was caught by surprise with an early period recently in a London museum. I had to use the machine in the loo.

One pound for ONE sanitary towel.

It pained me to pay it, but I was stuck and had no other options. What if I didn't have a spare pound? Or if I had a pound to buy all my sp for the month and had to spend it all on one pad?

It actually made me think a lot about how desperately unfair it is that a normal bodily function that affects millions of people is not openly and respectfully catered for.

If you are in Scotland the scheme for free sanitary protection has just rolled out to libraries, leisure centres, community centres and other public buildings. It doesn't come out of library budgets, but out of the money the Scottish government has earmarked for it.

I think having to ask may put some young girls off, also I hope they give a full packet or packets of protection and not just one or two at a time.

I doubt the library are funding that themselves. Even if they are I don't see it as a bad thing

Begrudging women in period poverty sanpro must be about as low as it’s possible to sink.

Having them in the library is a great idea. My town have them in schools/colleges but that’s not enough to reach everyone who requires them.

This would have been great when I was younger, we had to use rags and burn them on the fire x

I hadn't heard of this but think it is a BRILLIANT idea. Absolutely fantastic. It should be made available in as many libraries as possible imo and more girls and women should know about it.
I cannot think of a single downside to it.

Well, you know, give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Once women know they can get free things at the library, they won't just menstruate for 1 week a month, oh no. They'll start doing it all the bleedin' time, just to get the freebies.

Or not.

Basic, no frills sanitary towels, which is what they will be, should be free anyway.

I take it you used your own tissue to wipe?

Hygiene poverty is a massive problem in the UK. That said, I do understand your concerns about where the money is coming from to fund the initiative given the fact that public services have been cut to the bone year on year, OP.

I’ve just posted this link on another thread but it beats repeating for those who aren’t aware of The Hygiene Bank, a charity aimed at providing personal care basics for people living in poverty in the UK. They have collection/donation points in most towns/cities. They are like a food bank but for things like toothpaste, shampoo, tampons and soap. Please consider donating if you can. www.thehygienebank.com