Booth Library on the Eastern Illinois University campus is opening a new family hub and two rooms dedicated to providing comfortable spaces for nursing and feeding.
According to the 2024 EIU Diversity and Equity Plan, nearly 7% of EIU students last semester were parents. That is around 300 students attending EIU.
The proposal for the new rooms was made last spring semester 2023 by Amy Odwarka, the first-year experience/student success librarian in Booth Library, and Michele McDaniel, coordinator of the Ballenger Teachers Center and librarian.
They noticed some students had kids and did not have a place to study and take care of their little ones.
“One of my inspirations was a young woman who had brought her kid in every day with her to study who was so dedicated trying to hold her kid while she was learning,” McDaniel said. “I thought, ‘What could we do to help her?’”
On the day of the opening, University President Jay Gatrell, accompanied by Provost Ryan Hendrickson, cut the ribbon to officially open these two new rooms as part of the family hub.
One of the newest rooms is the family study room, which can be reserved on the Booth Library website or by asking the front desk. The family study room is a collaborative space for parents to focus while their children can play. The space includes a computer, child-friendly seating and other activities.
Additionally, there are two new lactation and infant feeding rooms. One is located on the fourth floor with a sink, requiring reservation at the front desk or online, and one is on the third floor without a sink, no reservation needed. The rooms include a rocking chair, dimmable lights, outlets and charging ports.
This is the first time since 2002 that Booth Library has undergone thorough renovation.
In the family-friendly study room, there is a children’s corner where there are books, a play area, toys, an adjacent computer for students to work on and STEM activity tables.
Students can also borrow a Yoto player for their children to listen to audio books on or a Magna-Tiles set for use in the library by asking the front desks.
McDaniel said that she thinks the rooms are perfect. She called them relaxing and comfortable for students who need to feed their babies.
“I see peers of my own every day and cannot imagine having a kid and being a student,” said senior English education major Amira Montgomery, who works on the fourth floor of Booth Library. “It’s good to have a safe space on campus that is effective.”
The library also installed new changing tables during this renovation to give proper access to everything parents might need.
The family hub is part of four different hubs on the campus. These hubs are located all around campus including cultural hubs and academic hubs like the union hub that offers programs and services.
Sia DeyKoontz can be reached at 581-2812 or at smdeykoontz@eiu.edu.
