In our most recent CLEL Member Meetup, which was attended by librarians from around the country, the conversation revolved around inclusive spaces in our libraries.
Refreshingly, new buildings are often being crafted with a consideration for inclusive spaces. From lower shelving to all-user restrooms, closed-captioning to fully-equipped sensory rooms, many accommodations are being made to ensure library spaces are truly welcoming to all.
In one particular community, the sensory room features all sorts of fun items and is open to all users, not just children:
- Adjustable lighting
- Variable seating options
- Weighted vests
- Crash pad
- Tactile books
While it can be difficult to retrofit spaces to be more accessible and inclusive, there are means of enhancing accessibility while on a budget. One of the easiest and most useful ways to enhance accessibility is by creating sensory boxes, which include things like fidgets, headphones, and more to help make people feel more comfortable in the library. These tools can be helpful for both children and adults alike.
Some other ways people have been able to make their library spaces more inclusive include:
- Sensory strips
- Kick bands for chairs
- Hygiene kits
- Accessible signage (including Braille and high-contrast signs)
- Home delivery options
- Diabetes kits
- A posted Storytime agenda
- All-user restrooms
- Pocket-talk for translations
Great work is being done in the realm of making library spaces inclusive for all, and there is still more to be done to benefit both library users and library staff.
If given unlimited budget and permission, our participants dreamed of ways their own libraries could become more inclusive:
- Pod rooms
- Sensory corner
- Loop system for hearing aids
- Ways to open doors without hands
- Standing/sitting desk options
- Multilingual staff
- White noise machine
- Sound panels
- Soft floors for standing
What are the ways in which your library space is inclusive? Let us know by emailing info@clel.org. We can add pictures and more from those of you who were not able to attend!
Please see below for resources to support inclusive library spaces, and we’d love to see you at our final meetup of 2025 on Thursday, November 13 at 1pm MST where we’ll be sharing our favorite Storytime books of the year.
Resources:
- Ten Ways to Make Libraries More Inclusive https://shp.com/2024/02/26/ten-ways-to-make-libraries-more-inclusive/
- Inclusive Design for the 21st Century: https://www.gensler.com/blog/inclusive-design-for-the-21st-century-library
- Intersectional Accessibility: Creating Inclusive Spaces, Examining Ebook Accessibility: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/intersectional-accessibility-creating-inclusive-spaces-examining-ebook-accessibility
- https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2016/09/02/dos-and-donts-on-designing-for-accessibility/
- https://playgroundcommunicationboards.com/product/library-communication-board/?srsltid=AfmBOoqGqiooS87C6j5ubc7Ls1VlYgaHo4JDnaPU46tgHGyMk2Wrv6d9
- https://cefls.org/public/communication-boards-at-your-library/
- https://www.pocketalk.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11608378213&gbraid=0AAAAACzzrP2Mj09L5XmhfyHx5634GVxFT&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoP_FBhDFARIsANPG24MDxmYAn6PYa5y29QWI8gVWNuXFYnNq7kVy8oMSCC8Bt2xHzUgo2lUaAvbfEALw_wcB
