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Bath and North East Somerset Libraries

Sensory Space at Midsomer Norton Library


Welcome to our Sensory Space at Midsomer Norton Library.

What is our sensory space and who is it for?

It’s a place to take a sensory break away from the lights and sounds of the main library.

room with bean bag and other objects and low lights

How do I book?

Tickets are free, but you need to book to use the Sensory Space.

Drop in hours: From 3.30 – 4.30pm the Sensory Space is open for drop ins. For this hour there is no need to book, the room is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Getting feedback from you

Supporting your access to the library and sensory space

Sometimes it helps to know what to expect before visiting a new place, so we have made this downloadable Autism friendly guide to visiting Midsomer Norton Library

We have also made a guide to show you what is in the sensory space.  You will also find a copy of this guide in the room.

Try out one of our new Sensory Explorer Bags

We have introduced new Sensory Explorer Bags for children and young people with additional needs to borrow and use in our spaces, including Bath Housing and Welfare Advice Services and the Mobile Library.

Noise cancelling headphones, fidget toy and lanyard with 'please give me space', on top of a bag with a folder titled 'accessibility guide'

Sensory Explorer Bags provide a sensory and tactile self-led offer for families and all include a guide to the space, ear defenders and a fidget toy. Ask staff for more information.

Supporting material for users with autism or a sensory processing disorder

For World Autism Acceptance Week 2022, we curated a list of reading material and supporting resources which you can download here.

It includes books that can be borrowed or reserved online and picked up at your local library and eAudiobooks and Ebooks which are available on Borrow Box.

There is also information about organisations and sources of information, including Sendias Bathnes (formerly known as SEND Partnership Service) and The Specialist Autism Support Service .

Read some interesting guest articles on Autism:

Sarah Keelty on Autism Acceptance Week

Autism Awareness Week

This guest article is from Sarah Keelty, Teacher: Specialist Autism Support Service (SASS) at Fosseway School, as part of our Autism Awareness Week celebrations. Over 1 in 100 people in […]
Staff Spotlight: Alice on Autism

Staff Spotlight: Alice on Autism

We spoke to Alice, one of our library colleagues, about her experience with Autism. “It’s 08:59am and my heartbeat has increased. The doors welcoming the customers into the library are […]
BaNES Parent Carer Forum on World Autism Acceptance Week

B&NES Parent Carer Forum on Autism Acceptance Week

This guest article is from the B&NES Parent Carer Forum, written for World Autism Acceptance Week. We are very excited to welcome the Forum as a new gifting partner of […]
guest article Autistic eye

Jo Curd, Author and Co-founder of Autistic Eye

To mark the beginning of World Autism Acceptance Week, we hear from Jo Curd, author and co-founder of Autistic Eye, a Community Interest Company, not-for-profit initiative based in Bath. Autistic […]