Name: Role of Public Libraries in Supporting Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers: A Call to Action
Start: 2025-05-09T13:40:00-0600
End: 2025-05-09T14:00:00-0600

Welcome to the 2025 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference! We are thrilled to have you joining us for this incredible professional development and networking opportunity.

Registration Desk
Make sure you check in to the conference at our registration desk before heading off to any meals or sessions! Here you can pick up your name tag and ask any questions you might have. The registration desk will be open from 6:45 am to 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 8, and from 6:45 am to 3:00 pm on Friday, May 9.

Using the Sched App
Use this app to build your personalized conference schedule! You will find some things have already been added to your schedule (such as meals and key speakers), but everything else is up to you.

We also encourage you to turn on the "Public Profile & Schedule" option under the "My Account" tab. This will add you to the public attendee list, helping you to connect with other delegates and helping them connect with you. This is optional.

Conference Sponsors
SLA gratefully acknowledges our many event sponsors. Without their generous support, this conference would not be possible! Here is the list of our sponsors:

Platinum Level: Library Bound Inc. and Regina Public Library
Gold Level: Saskatoon Public Library
Silver Level: CVS Midwest Tape, University of Saskatchewan - University Library, and United Library Services
Bronze Level: Bravo Tango, Britannica Digital Learning, Clarivate, OverDrive, Palliser Regional Library, Southeast Regional Library, University of Regina, Wheatland Regional Library, and Wintergreen Learning Materials

Exhibitors
Make sure to visit the Exhibitor Hall located in the Gallery A! The Exhibitor Hall will be open on Thursday, May 8 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with the Exhibitor Social to follow from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Join us at the social for appetizers, drinks, and a chance to learn more about our exhibitors!

Here is the list of our exhibitors:

Carr McLean Ltd.
Creative Kids Saskatchewan
CVS Midwest Tape
Law Society of Saskatchewan, Legal Resources
Lung Saskatchewan
Prison Library Sub-committee
Provincial Library & Literacy Office, Government of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Council for Archives & Archivists Inc.
Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation
SaskBooks
Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism
Shadowpaw Press
Turning the Tide Bookstore
United Library Services
University of Regina Press

Friday May 9, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm MDT

Gallery D

Presented by Dr. Shela Hirani

Breastfeeding is an ideal nutrition for young children that has nutritional, developmental, psychological, environmental, and economic benefits. In the long term, breastfeeding reduces the likelihood of a child developing obesity, type 1 diabetes, asthma or severe lower respiratory disease and contributes to healthy neurological development. Compared with the use of breastmilk substitutes (formula milk), breastfeeding is the safest mode of infant feeding because breastmilk has several beneficial bioactive agents, is readily available at the right temperature, does not require supplies for its preparation, and has low chances of contamination.

Saskatchewan has shown the sharpest decline in maternal breastfeeding rates. Statistics depict that in Saskatchewan 94.9% of mothers initiate breastfeeding soon after childbirth but then 15% of mothers stop breastfeeding within a month, 22% of mothers stop breastfeeding between 1 and 6 months, and only 38.8% of mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for at least 6 months. This indicates the importance of improving maternal and child healthcare in this province through informational and tangible support using non-traditional avenues, like public libraries.

Public libraries can play an essential role in promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding practices of mothers using the baby-friendly approach, offering need-based culturally appropriate innovative programs, and serving as a hub of informational support for all mothers. In this presentation, Dr. Shela Hirani will share a call to action and an insight into the ways public libraries can support the breastfeeding practices of mothers using innovative strategies and resources.

Speakers

Shela Hirani

Associate Professor, University of Regina

Dr. Shela Hirani is an Associate Professor at the University of Regina, Canada. She is a maternal and child health nursing professional, researcher, lactation consultant and an advocate of baby-friendly initiatives. Dr. Hirani is actively involved in breastfeeding advocacy and health... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm MDT
Gallery D

20-Minute Sessions

2025 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference: Grow With Your Library

Shela Hirani

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