We want our library to be a welcoming place for all, and we are especially eager to show off our brand-new library. Our new library is located next to the City Pool and a public park, so there’s lots to do both inside and outside of the building.
For folks who have sensory processing disorders, though, public spaces like the library and a park or pool can sometimes be overwhelming. Research indicates that 5-13% of American kids between the ages of 4 to 6 have a sensory processing challenge, which can cause them to react to inputs like bright lights, loud noises, and new surroundings.
We are very proud to have been one of 300 libraries in the country selected for the American Library Association’s of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant, which awarded us $10,000 that we will use to transform our Anstaff Bank Plaza next to the children’s area to a sensory-friendly place for our patrons and community. The space will have special seating and calming activities for kids and families when the library itself or the nearby pool and park are too overwhelming.
To that end, we want to hear feedback from our patrons and community on how best to design this space! We are hosting a community design conversation next week, Thursday, October 22, at 5:30 pm at the new library on 207 S. Springfield Street. Please join us or pass your feedback onto our director, Julie Hall, if you’re not able to attend.
“Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).”
Are you planning to attend the meeting? Do you or someone you know have a sensory processing disorder? Tell us in the comments.
