Come Chill Out at the Library: Creating Soothing Spaces for Neurodiverse Students

Abstract

As more neurodivergent students enroll in college, academic libraries need to examine how accessible their space is for these students. Susquehanna University, a private, four-year college, has many neurodiverse students on our campus. When librarians met with the Counseling and Psychological Services ASD and Neurodiversity student group, they discovered the library was a difficult space for many of them to use. To create a more welcoming space, the library purchased fidget toys for in-library use, created an occupancy counter, and renovated three study rooms into sensory-friendly spaces. Librarians learned a lot from this experience about groups to collaborate with and things to be mindful of when working with neurodiverse students.