Background: Menstrual equity is easier than you think! This lightning talk will supply the audience with the data, budget, & discussion points in order to implement a similar program within any institution (public, academic, nonprofit, etc). This also presents menstrual equity as an essential part of DEI initiatives in order to remove the sexism and stigma around menstruation and provide cost-prohibitive health products to our communities.
Description: Health products necessary for menstruation are regularly criticized for being prohibitively expensive and inaccessible. It is not uncommon for those that menstruate to be surprised by their period starting. The health sciences library at a large university took year-end unused funds to purchase menstrual products which would be freely available in all library bathrooms. After 18 months, and 250,000 patrons visiting the library, the cost to supply them averaged $22 per month. Outreach resulted in the campus Office of Diversity making menstrual products freely available within every bathroom on campus. This lightning talk will provide everyone with tools to advocate menstrual equity at any institution. Everyone should have the right to care for themselves easily and without shame, and libraries have the chance to be at the forefront of this movement.
Conclusion: The $22 per month average is based on the purchase of tampons, pads and liners in bulk and reflects pre-COVID budgets and library patron numbers. Thanks to outreach efforts, the cost for the menstrual products is no longer the responsibility of the library and supplied via campus facilities. Added efforts have led to the city making them freely available in public buildings and the airport. This success is now being followed up with a student-led grant proposal to make menstrual cups available for minimal cost to all students, staff or faculty interested in a more sustainable menstrual alternative.