Breastfeeding mom asked to leave public library computer room

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -  If there's one thing Kelle Perkins feels strongly about, it's breastfeeding in public.

So when she found herself at the public library with a hungry two-month old, she went into mommy-mode.

"I was like Okay with the shirt I have on, I can very inconspicuously put him inside the shirt feed him and no one will know the wiser," said Perkins.

Perkins was sitting in the computer lab at the Mecklenburg County library on Beatties Ford Road trying to multitask.

"I was knocking out two birds with one stone, I was feeding him and I was getting my family business taken care off. And I have that right," said Perkins.

But other people started to complain.

Library employees responded to the complaints by telling Perkins she could use the nursing room.

She says she politely declined so she could finish using the computer.

"She comes back again. 'Well my supervisor really wants you to go ahead and get up and go to the nursing room', and I got offended by that statement," said Perkins.

Under North Carolina law, a woman can breastfeed in any private or public location.

So Perkins was within her rights.

A library spokesperson admits staff members misunderstood the rules. They've since been reminded of the library's policies and procedures.

"We apologize if she felt uncomfortable at any point during her visit on that day and we wanted her to know that it was the intent of our staff to make her aware of the nursing room," said Cordelia Anderson, a spokesperson with the Mecklenburg County library.

Perkins felt humiliated.

She hopes this incident serves as a learning lesson to other moms and businesses.

"I think there's an education that is totally needed," said Perkins.