Press Release | June 01, 2026
lactation chairs

Queens Public Library Partners with MediSys Health Network to Support Breastfeeding Customers 

Initiative Provides 20 Lactation Chairs Systemwide to Assist Caregivers Feeding Young Children in Library Spaces 

QUEENS, NY_Queens Public Library and the MediSys Health Network (Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center) have collaborated to place 20 lactation chairs at various locations across the library system, expanding its commitment to supporting maternal and infant health. 

The initiative was made possible through the Breastfeeding, Chestfeeding, and Lactation Friendly NY (BFF-NY) grant, awarded by the New York State Department of Health to QPL’s healthcare partners—Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center—to support caregivers in the surrounding communities. 

Through this partnership, QPL has established designated lactation areas in branches across Queens, the majority of them within the grant’s covered ZIP codes, providing welcoming spaces for parents and caregivers to feed their young children while visiting libraries. QPL has also worked with its healthcare partners to offer maternal health materials and programming at participating locations, connecting families with reliable information, resources, and support in their neighborhoods. 

“Parents know that Queens Public Library is a trusted, welcoming space where they can access a wide range of programs, services, and opportunities that foster learning, health, and well-being from the earliest stages of their children’s lives,” said QPL Community Health Coordinator Erica Rabinowitz. “These new lactation chairs add a practical dimension to the assistance we offer to breastfeeding caregivers, providing a comfortable place to care for their babies while also connecting them with educational materials and other library resources. We are grateful to the New York State Department of Health and our partners at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center for their support.”  

“At Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals, our goal is to empower women within our community to have equitable access to breastfeeding education and support. We are committed to addressing health disparities by providing culturally responsive, evidence-based guidance to mothers and families. Through education and outreach, we aim to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and promote lifelong wellness. We thank the NYS DOH and our partners at the QPL for working with us to help achieve this goal,” stated Maria Smilios, Director of Nursing~ Maternal and Child Services at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.  

The initiative has been warmly received by families and caregivers. “It’s so hard to find a place to feed my baby when I’m outside,” said Kitty Wong (pictured above), a regular customer at Jackson Heights Library who visits the branch with her daughter, Raya. “This is a very welcome addition to the space.” 

These efforts are part of a broader range of QPL programs and services for expecting parents, new families, and their babies, including free workshops, support groups, and educational programs. Offerings include Baby Basics, a virtual workshop series for pregnant people and parents of infants up to two months old, and New Mamas, a virtual support group for mothers of babies under 12 months, led by a postpartum doula. Topics cover breastfeeding, sleep, play, and developmental milestones.  

In partnership with several health institutions including Jamaica Hospital and Flushing Hospital, QPL also offers QPL Baby, an initiative that supports maternal health and early learning. Caregivers of children ages 0–5 can get a special-edition library card, and newborn families receive baby kits at hospital discharge with a bib, library information, and a branch map. 

The QPL Early Learning website features literacy, health, and parenting resources, and each month the Library shares a QPL Baby calendar highlighting upcoming programs for expecting and new parents.  

Lactation chairs have been placed at branches across Queens, including the following locations:  

 

About Queens Public Library  

Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country.  An independent, non-profit organization founded in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology, and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology lab at the Queensbridge public housing complex, a community learning center at the Ravenswood public housing complex, and five teen centers. It also has five bookmobiles and two book bicycles. 

 

About the MediSys Health Network (Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center) 

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Flushing Hospital Medical Center provide the highest quality care to an ethnically diverse population facing many healthcare barriers and offer a wide range of services to the Queens community. The Women’s Health Departments at both hospitals are responsible for approximately 4,500 deliveries annually. Flushing Hospital and Jamaica Hospital have both earned Baby- Friendly® designations.  This recognition demonstrates our commitment to uphold strict breastfeeding/chestfeeding and maternal care guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). 

 

CONTACT:  

Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org 

Michael Hinck, mhinck@jhmc.org 

Tags

lactation chairs MediSys Health Network Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Flushing Hospital Medical Center