Letter to Editor | I can now access Library’s public bathrooms

But nowhere else in the Village

||| FROM SHERRY GEE TRONVIG |||

Here’s a grateful kudo to Ingrid Mattson, director of the Orcas Island library. Because of Ingrid, we folks who live with disabilities, the elderly, and young children, can now easily access the public bathrooms at the library!

Surely, anyone who has pushed the bathroom doors open, whether the old ones or the ones in the new wing, has noticed that a bit of muscle is required to do so. Ingrid was aware of this, and by serendipity, while attending a library conference in Winthrop, noticed that their bathroom doors’ set screws had been intentionally loosened, making the doors easier to open. Ingrid, with the help of Michael Armenia, implemented the change back on Orcas Island to facilitate entrance to the bathrooms throughout the building. Thanks Ingrid!

FACT: Other than the library, there is nowhere in Eastsound that has public ADA bathrooms in use. When in town, my “sized to accommodate ADA bathroom” mobility scooter would get stuck in any bathroom other than those at the library. Even the most recently built ones on the Village Green – the All Gender bathrooms – are long enough to enter into, but so narrow that it’s impossible to turn around to afford an exit!

Thanks Ingrid; your empathy, and ability to listen to your community is much appreciated!