Pflugerville library unveils nursing pod

Melissa Grzybowski, the Pflugerville Public Library's head of youth services, unveils the facility's new nursing pod, which will give mothers a private, convenient location to breastfeed.
Pflugerville Public Library

Austin American-Statesman
Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman
January 11, 2024

A new private room at the Pflugerville Public Library, unveiled on Wednesday, will provide nursing parents with a convenient location to breastfeed.

Library officials said the $20,000 pod will provide a safe space for nursing parents and encourage families to visit the library. Officials said the pod, in the library's children's section, is big enough for a parent, a baby and a toddler.

Library officials said the pod can be accessed through a national app, mamava, which shows users where nursing pods are available in their area. Diane Sikkenga, the library's youth services librarian, said the pod is not just for patrons but for anyone needing a place to nurse.

"This gives people privacy," Sikkenga said. "We want to encourage nursing parents to come to the library because we don't want (nursing) to be an impediment to coming."

Sikkenga said the nursing pods provide people with a space to nurse where they can feel comfortable and safe.

Melissa Grzybowski, the library's head of youth services, said that while nursing is allowed anywhere at the library, some guests might feel uncomfortable for a myriad of reasons, so she wanted to create an accessible place.

Grzybowski said she is not aware of any complaints about breastfeeding at the library. She said patrons have been asking for a nursing or mother's room but because of lack of space, the library had not been able to provide one.

"We're hoping that this pod will encourage parents to bring their youngest family members to the library to start a lifelong journey of reading," Grzybowski said. "Parents can feel comfortable coming here knowing there is a dedicated spot for them."

Kailey Story, the mother of a 10-month-old girl, said she comes to the library every week. As a person who is not comfortable breastfeeding in public, she said, the pod is helpful. She said she can now go into the pod and remain in the library instead of leaving to breastfeed in her car for 20 minutes.

"I think it is convenient," Story said. "It is nice to have something comfortable other than the backseat."