My Library Is... Sensory Friendly

The Zion-Benton Public Library is taking the initiative to become a friendlier and more welcoming place for those with sensory needs. Participating in storytimes, enjoying picture books, and feeling secure in community spaces are experiences we wish for patrons of all ages that visit the library. However, as many as 15% of children have difficulty with sensory processing which can make visits to busy public places difficult. Finding ways to help these children and their caregivers have positive experiences is crucial for the continuing development of our library community. 

While it is impossible to know the exact number of individuals in our service area that struggle with this it has been shown to be a clear need within our community. Over the last couple of years, several parents and caregivers have requested sensory support for their families, with the largest request being to create a closed-off sensory room. Since we do not currently have the space available to create one of these, it has been a unique challenge for my department to find a way to offer support to these families.  

I began to research what other libraries were offering to their communities besides sensory rooms, and wound up taking a page from other public libraries’ use of sensory kits. To do this I compared offerings from these kits and spoke with colleagues who are teachers. The results showed that many kits contain 3 important items: a weighted lap pad, a wobble cushion, and a pair of noise canceling headphones. I went to work finding quality items that would be easy to maintain so that many families will be able to utilize them. Additionally, I included a variety of fidget toys compiled from the recommendation of colleagues and patrons, as well as toys included in other libraries’ kits. 

Working with our library marketer and graphic designer, we created an awareness campaign for these kits. This included social media posts, a feature in our newsletter, information in our eNews blasts, and bilingual signage at the library. This resulted in use by some of our regular library families. On display near the kits we offered a feedback form so that we could ensure that the kits were meeting the needs of the families in our community. Each piece of feedback we received was positive! 

The usage for these kits and items was still lower than I had expected after a few months so we changed the way the sensory kits were being presented. During a visit to a neighboring library, I noticed that their sensory items were in open bins on the shelves for people to pick up as needed, so I made a similar display at my library. Extra items like wobble cushions, noise canceling headphones, and fidget toys were put out in open bins with additional signage inviting our patrons to use them freely. This has helped increase overall awareness, and the number of children and caregivers who show interest in and use these items is steadily increasing. We still have the full kits at the desk that are available upon request. 

After speaking with another library’s youth services manager, I realized that the next step in this process is to circulate sensory items for at-home use too. This will provide caregivers with the opportunity to learn which items work best for their children in a private setting. Overall, I hope our library’s sensory collection will provide families with another avenue to support their children and make their library experience more comfortable.  

This week’s blog post was written by Amy Andresen, Youth Services Coordinator, Zion-Benton Public Library. 

This project was made possible by the My Library Is... Grant.