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Original poster

would you leave dirty nappies in a library?

245 replies

starlover · 30/03/2006 19:02

kind of following on from the restaurant thread!

My mum works in our local library and they have a baby jiggle and rhyme time on a friday morning.

Due to persistent requests they got a changing mat so that babies could be changed if necessary and people have now started LEAVING their dirty nappies beside it! for library staff to remove and bin....

I was Shock when I heard it

OP posts:
paolosgirl · 30/03/2006 23:31

Exactly, Starlover! If the free jiggle time with no nappy bin (shock horror) isn't to your liking, then BYEEEEE Grin

Caligula · 30/03/2006 23:32

Yes but I'm interested that the law (and apparantly general opinion) feels that the law should dispose of menstrual waste on all possible occasions but not baby faecal matter. Why the difference?

I'm not missing the point (I think), I agree that people who leave nappies around for other poeple to clear up are very inconsiderate, but I'm surprised that people get so surprised about it. If you provide a service to an end user, you really ought to try and service that end user effectively. And not providing the facilities to dispose of dirty nappies, is only providing half a service imo. I understand there are budgetary restrictions etc., but it bugs me that mothers are supposed to be grateful for every little service they get. If men looked after children, there wouldn't just be a nappy disposal unit in every library, there'd be a bar, a snooker table and more likely than not, a subscription to Sky Sports.

There'd be no pooper scoopers or street lights of course, but hey ho.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 30/03/2006 23:32

Im with Caligula on this.

I would also be so bold as to say that its not expensive to remove said waste. If there is alread a contract in place to remove sanitary towels - which there would be - then one extra bin will certainly not constitute 150-200 books a year or anything like.

You are looking at maybe an extra £30-£50. Thats less than a pound a week.

I would also say that my local library charges for these kind of activities. Only 50p, but it more than covers the cost of a sodding bin.

I dont think its asking much to provide clean and appropriate facilities to change a baby if you are going to have sessions in a building centred around babies.

expatinscotland · 30/03/2006 23:34

K, our library doesn't have a public toilet at all. many do not. so no sanitary towel bins and no nappy bins.

that's life under this council. either change the system or let the system change you.

Original poster
starlover · 30/03/2006 23:35

but why do people assume that there will be facilities?

it's a library... it for books.

they run a free scheme to try and encourage people in... why on earth would you assume that there would be every facility you need there?
and why would you complain if there isn't?

why can't people ever be grateful for what they have without wanting more and more and more?

OP posts:
Caligula · 30/03/2006 23:35

My baby clinic would not allow buggies inside the building.

Another example of mothers being treated as supplicants for services.

Then my HV got all arsey with me for never going because I didn't want to leave my buggy outside to be stolen.

Caligula · 30/03/2006 23:36

But why are you encouraging people to come in if you don't then cater for them to the best of your ability?

Just don't encourage them.

Original poster
starlover · 30/03/2006 23:36

ours doesn't either...

and do you know why? because otherwise it's choick full and if there was a fire no-one would be able to get out.

yeah, really thoughtless that!

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 30/03/2006 23:36

In case anyone wonders (and think im plucking numbers from thin air) - i know the costs involved (and i was overestimating on £30-50) because i worked for the largest (and most expensive) business to business services company in the world up until October last year.

Smile
expatinscotland · 30/03/2006 23:36

My HV knows better than to mess w/me anymore. She cuts me a very wide berth. :o

Original poster
starlover · 30/03/2006 23:36

what a ridiculous thing to say!

OP posts:
Caligula · 30/03/2006 23:37

We all know about you and your HV expat! Grin

paolosgirl · 30/03/2006 23:37

I'm not against nappy bins, if the council is prepared to pay for them - but on this occasion, they aren't. Now, you can either accept the free jiggle time and the fact that there is not a bin, or you can leave the session!

Surprised that people would think to leave a soiled nappy for library staff to pick up? No, surprised is not the word that I'd use.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 30/03/2006 23:38

oh get a life!

lockets · 30/03/2006 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

paolosgirl · 30/03/2006 23:40

VVV - very surprised at your £30-£50 annual contract charge. Who was that with, because I know we pay far more than that, and I'd be very interested in comparison figures for when it comes to renegotiating the contract. Thanks.

oops · 30/03/2006 23:40

oh, you have a mall, we don't have an inside area here so in winter i only had the library or starbucks to feed ds2 when we were out.
nipples would have fallen off trying to feed him on bench..and what would i have done with ds1

I couldn't afford to keep going back to starbucks, and ds1 wanted to be occupied so the lirnbabry it was. I'd read to ds1 and thus improve his education, juggling ds2 feeding him. and then have to pack them both up in the buggy and sneak into starbucks to change them both when they pooed as i just couldn't herd ds1 up the stairs and hold ds2

i suppose i could have just stayed home every day... but the staff and the atmosphere at the library was great, and quite honestly is the only place i could feed ds2 for free whilst ds1 was gainfully employed as it were....
i jst didn't have the sort of facilities that you have tbh
so paolosgirl, that is My reality which may seem bizarre to you, but there it is Smile

Caligula · 30/03/2006 23:41

So what's so different about sanitary towels? OK there's a legal difference, but what's the moral difference? And don't say it's because they're 50% of the population, because at the sniggle jiggle or whatever it is, little beings who are likely to deposit smelly wastage products in nappies are 50% of the population, presumably, and then option of mooncup equivalents isn't open to them.

paolosgirl · 30/03/2006 23:42

Your reality sounds lovely, Oops - and I'm sure that you didn't think for a moment to leave soiled nappies on the floor for the staff to pick up as Starlover's mother has to Smile

Original poster
starlover · 30/03/2006 23:42

women work at the library
women have periods
women need somewhere to put them

babies don't work at the library
babies don't have to go there at all

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 30/03/2006 23:42

Im not going to say on board. Cat me.

Caligula · 30/03/2006 23:43

So why run sniggle jiggle sessions, if you don't want babies to go there at all?

Original poster
starlover · 30/03/2006 23:43

who said they don't want them there?

they're more than welcome there... but it's the mother's choice to take them, and if they aren't happy with the facilities they don't have to go

OP posts:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 30/03/2006 23:43

Exactly Caligula.

If you dont want nappies dont run baby sessions.

Original poster
starlover · 30/03/2006 23:44

btw, is there a reason why you can't type jiggle and rhyme?

just curious...

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