MHPL joins Code Red initiative to end period poverty

By James Tubb on April 26, 2022.

KENDALL KING

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
kking@medicinehatnews.com

The Medicine Hat Public Library is joining five other libraries in the region to provide free menstruation products within the facility as part of the Code Red initiative.

Code Red was first introduced April 19 at Medicine Hat, Redcliff, Bassano, Bow Island, Irvine and Gem libraries. The initiative aims to eliminate period poverty; a significant issue in Alberta and across the country as studies show approximately 23 per cent of Canadians who menstruate have struggled to afford period products.

“We saw it done very successfully at other libraries, and libraries are always very generous with each other with sharing ideas and letting other libraries steal their ideas so to say … So we thought this was a perfect opportunity for us,” Petra Mauerhoff, CEO of the Shortgrass Library System, told the News. 

Not only do Mauerhoff and her team hope to alleviate financial concerns for menstruators, they also aim to reduce the stigma around menstruation.

“There is a significant amount of misinformation and stigma around menstruation and reproductive health,” said Mauerhoff. “(So) in addition to supplying free menstrual products, the Code Red project will provide libraries with books and informational pamphlets on menstruation and reproductive health, to ensure community members are informed about these important issues. 

“There are 18 books available through the library catalogue, and there are 30 physical books available. A lot of them have already gone out, so we are super excited to see they’re actually popular. They’re for different age groups, therefore (each book) approaches the subject from a different angle … There’s a really cool selection and we hope they will help towards the elimination of stigma.”

Gillian Reimer, head of marketing services with the MHPL, believes the library a perfect community space to make menstruation products and information about such available. 

“Our library is open to the public and a free space for everyone to use, so it only makes sense we would also have free menstruation products,” Reimer told the News. 

Not only are products available in women’s washrooms, they are also available in single stall washrooms throughout the facility, so they can be accessed by all individuals. 

Reimer reports library patrons have already begun accessing the products.

“There’s kind of a scarcity effect at first,” said Reimer. “But over time, the research has shown, people realize these are here to stay, so they don’t need to hoard them because (the products) are there and going to be free continuing on.

“As long as our library is open, we will have free period products.”

Reimer and Mauerhoff are grateful for the support the project has already received from the community. Mauerhoff especially wants to thank the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta, which provided funding for Code Red through a community grant. 

“The grants committee is made up of a diverse group of volunteers and board members of the Community Foundation and they saw the need in the community and wanted to fill that gap of period poverty,” Niki Gray, executive director of the CFSEA, told the News. 

“The Root Cellar and Medicine Hat College does an incredible drive (for menstruation products) each year, but we saw it valuable to have these available in the Shortgrass Library Systems across the region (and have) it available in both gender specific washrooms (so) there were no barriers.”

The Medicine Hat Public Library is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday; from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 1-5 p.m. on Sundays.

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