VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. — Vanderburgh County Commissioners President Justin Elpers has formally requested the removal of free tampon and pad dispensers from men’s restrooms at all Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library (EVPL) locations. The request, outlined in a letter sent to EVPL CEO Scott Kinney on Monday, has sparked local debate about the use of taxpayer dollars and access to hygiene products.
In the letter titled “In Re: Request for Removal of Women’s Hygiene Dispensers from Men’s Restrooms,” Elpers expressed concerns about the costs associated with purchasing, installing, and maintaining the dispensers. He argued that providing free hygiene products in men’s restrooms represents an unnecessary expenditure of public funds.
“It has been brought to the attention of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners’ Office that the men’s restroom at the Vanderburgh County Libraries are equipped with dispensers providing free tampons and pads,” Elpers wrote. “As President of the Vanderburgh County Commission, I am formally requesting the removal of all women’s hygiene dispensers from the men’s restrooms in all Vanderburgh County Public Library facilities.”
In response, the EVPL acknowledged the request and assured Elpers that the library had already been in discussions regarding the relocation of these hygiene product dispensers. A statement from the library confirmed that plans were underway to move the dispensers from men’s restrooms to family restrooms, a change that would be part of the library’s broader Facilities Master Plan. This plan also includes the addition of family restrooms at regional library locations.
The dispensers, which were placed in restrooms across various library locations, had been part of an initiative to improve hygiene equity, ensuring that all library patrons had access to necessary hygiene products. A note displayed on one of the dispensers in a photo shared by Elpers’ supporters read, “Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library is proud to provide FREE hygiene products for all library patrons in an effort to improve hygiene equity in Vanderburgh County. Push the left button for pads. Push the right button for tampons. Feel free to take one for someone you know.”
However, when a visit was made to the EVPL Central Library on Tuesday, the dispenser featured in the photo was no longer present. The library did not comment on whether the dispenser’s removal was directly tied to the letter or part of a broader policy shift.
This debate has drawn attention to the ongoing discussion around the allocation of taxpayer dollars for public services, as well as broader efforts to address hygiene equity and accessibility for all members of the community.
As of now, the library plans to proceed with relocating the dispensers to family restrooms, with the potential for this initiative to be implemented in the coming months as part of the Facilities Master Plan.
