Menstrual Equity Program

Sonoma County Library’s Menstrual Equity Program provides free access to menstrual hygiene supplies at all library locations.

In September 2018, teen librarian Rosalie Abbott and the staff at Sebastopol Regional Library proposed a pilot program centered on menstrual equity at five Sonoma County libraries: Central Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Rincon Valley, Sebastopol, and Sonoma Valley. The pilot was a success, and the program was expanded to all Sonoma County Library public and staff restrooms.

According to freethetampons.org, 86% of people who menstruate have reported starting their period in public without the supplies they need. Sonoma County Library, the first library system in the United States to offer this service, is doing our part to prevent this from happening.

The Menstrual Equity Program is made possible by the library sales tax, the community’s investment in free public libraries.