Library Board Seeks Public Comments on Proposal to Redesignate Family/ADA Restrooms as Single-occupant Restrooms
release date: June 18, 2018
The Seattle Public Library board of trustees has proposed changing multiuser family/ADA restrooms located inside children’s areas to single-occupant restrooms open to all.
The board will hear public comments on the proposed change at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 19 at the Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 4, Room 1. Library patrons are also welcome to email comments to: library.board@spl.org.
Currently, the multiuser family/ADA restrooms are for use by caregivers with children, disabled patrons with their assistants, and breastfeeding mothers. This is because the family/ADA restrooms are located inside children’s areas, which by policy is reserved for children, their caregivers, and those accessing the children’s collection.
Under the proposed new restroom policy, which will also require a change to the Public Use of Children’s Areas Policy, all patrons will be allowed to use the multiuser family/ADA restroom in children’s areas.
While Library patrons have always been able to choose the restroom based on the gender they identify with, not all patrons feel safe or are comfortable doing so. It is why the Library recently installed a new single-occupant restroom on Level 3 of the Central Library.
Currently, the Library has multiuser family/ADA restrooms located in children’s areas at the Central Library and Capitol Hill, Lake City and Ballard branches. If the policy is approved, these restrooms would be available to all Library patrons.