From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 14, the Library will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Welch Children’s Wing and present the latest addition to our commitment to dynamic library service, the opening of a private lactation space.

The room, on the first floor of the Welch Children’s Wing near the Creativity Zone, will feature a private space for parents and staff to express milk or nurse their children with a sink to make washing hands and cleaning pump parts easy. This is part of an ongoing commitment by the library to be a breastfeeding-friendly location.

In August 2023, Library CEO and Director Amy C. Resh signed a “Breastfeeding Welcome Here” pledge with the Lycoming Clinton Breastfeeding Coalition, a chapter of the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Coalition (PABC) and UPMC Williamsport. By signing the pledge, the library becomes a supporting partner to provide a welcoming environment for families to nurse their infants and young children. 

“The Library works closely with our community partners to serve the needs of our patrons,” said Resh. “Our staff partnered with UPMC and the PA Breastfeeding Coalition to identify a private space that could be used by families visiting the library. We are excited to make this space available to the community.”

"It has been such a great pleasure to partner with the James V. Brown library over the years with our Baby Cafe group. The library has long provided a warm, welcoming environment for young families. It is great to see this extension of that welcoming environment by opening a room designated for parents,” said Natalie McCullen RN, IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant), at The Birthplace UPMC Magee-Womens at Williamsport. “This demonstrates support for normalizing spaces in our community for a parent to feed and provide human milk for their child. This will be a great resource for library patrons and library employees.”

Lisa McCloskey, RN, BSN, IBCLC, Lycoming Clinton Breastfeeding Coalition Chairperson agreed. "Thank you so much to the James V. Brown Library and their staff for promoting and supporting breastfeeding families by providing books, resources and breastfeeding programs.”

According to the Pennsylvania Breast Feeding Coalition, the nearest public library lactation space is in Centre County, making this space the first of its kind in Lycoming County.

Employers, families, and organizations play a key role in creating a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community. To join this Williamsport initiative or for information, please contact Hello@williamsportbffc.com.

The James V. Brown Library, and libraries everywhere, continue to adapt and expand services to meet the evolving community needs. To sign up for a library card or to learn more about the library’s resources and programs, please visit jvbrown.edu.

Drop into the Welch Wing anytime between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm for cake and to explore your new space! 

For questions, please call 570-326-0536 Ext. 120.