We have collaborated on a number of efforts with our county public health department and they have asked us to partner most recently with their Integrated Testing Services to build community awareness of their HIV and STI prevention program. We are looking at hosting a testing clinic and providing brochures and educational materials.
They have also asked us to consider placing a condom distributor in the library. While I'm open to the idea, I want to consider logistics and staff training for potential concerns from the public before committing. I would appreciate hearing from other libraries that offer this service, how you distribute, and if you have procedures/training for staff to respond to public inquiry. We had feminine hygiene products in free dispensers in both restrooms and had issues with vandalism and hygiene products being stuck to walls/mirrors when they were available in the restrooms and I have concerns about misuse/vandalism with condom distributors as well. We relocated the hygiene products to a dispenser outside our restrooms with line of sight for staff form our information desk and that resolved the vandalism issue so we could potentially place the condom distributor near that dispenser.
Which brings me to my last question: what your experience been with public response to the library offering safe sex products? Having them placed visibly will likely raise eyebrows and I just want to be sure we're looking at this form all angles.
Anything additional I may not have thought of with this service?
Thanks much,
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Jennifer Garner
She/Her/Hers
2023 President, Association for Rural & Small Libraries
Library Director
North Liberty Community Library, Iowa
jgarner@northlibertyiowa.org(319) 626-5778
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