Special Needs Library Services: Every Child Is Included

Special Needs Library Services: Every Child is Included Case Study
Parisa Samaie, Los Angeles Southwest College
Friday, November 4th - 11:15 - 12

Play is critical to child development and unfortunately children with special needs are often participating in storytime and playgroups because most library events are overwhelming for them.

Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center is one of 21 centers, she previously worked at one of these nonprofit libraries.

Fantastic session! Great info. about the amazing services these libraries offer and all the dirt on how they started their therapeutic toy collection - all the goods on cataloging, cleaning, and more!

If interested, read more below .....

Notes:

(photos of slides) - still working on how to get out of my phone.

No play inside the Library (did not want to be liable). Cleaning between each. Policies for all, liability.

Used categories instead of dewey. Looked for adaptive toys (can be hooked into a button - good for limited mobility).

Used "Music and Movement" program, certificate trademark program offered, use instruments, body, music, mind.

Larger "fine motor skills toys" - larger pieces to help develop muscles.

Social - example birthday cake toy

Language - sequencing farm soy - helps with language

Cause and effect - promotes language, example rolling ball toy (we have!), child follows the ball. Sharing facts about play and the toy itself what we / why we are using.

Emotions - Rina's emotion dolls! Medical set, scared of doctors, kits help children learn about situation coming up. Dentists, dr. optometrist.

Vehicles - all categories (fall under other categories area). Did not orignaly have a vehicle category. The families ask for vehicles (any). Boys and girls all love cars and trains and planes. Easy just for access. Over 100 offered.

Purchased about 100 toys. Cataloged marc record, no dewey, age of toy (toy for 2 plus as ex.), parents to see toys and choose.

Renewed grant, now purchased over 500 toys. More than could fit into cabinets. Moved into storage (individual boxes). Each box has a label (dramatic play or cause and effect). Rotate stock of what is out on floor.

Toys stored in plastic bag or box. Used tags (cd tags inside bag). Use a uv santizing wand. They also use dishwashers. Use lysol and paper towel. Options for cleaning.

Toys matched with program or playgroup. Have a play expert on staff. 6-8 week curriculum. Open free registration for clients. Color, shapes, storytime, etc.

Sensory Play Days at the Pasadena Public Library

Sensory Play Days at Pasadena Public Library (Sensory Play and Art)
Pasadena Library
Friday 11/4 - 10:15 am

This session was very similar to the program our children's team put on for staff with occupational therapist Robyn Chu where we covered common special needs, learning about the needs of these conditions, and how to create a storytime (and library environment) that was welcoming.

The goal was to educate about what some common special needs are, educate and take away the fear and stigma, you do not need to be a professional to offer storytimes, just have some awareness and sensitivity, and give some background and ideas on successful programs and how Pasadena Public Library put together their programs and what you can do.

Definition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and discussing that it was a spectrum and common needs including - difficulty making eye contact, obsessing over particular subjects, difficulty regulating emotions (meltdowns).

Definition of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and discussing the controversy of this diagnoses, vestibular system issues (where body begins and end), and some of the sensory trigger issues for children.

Often children have both, but not always.

"Sensory Play Day" at Pasadena. 2015 Linda Vista Library - inclusive event - is a culminating event from she 6 week storytime event. They take over the Library with toys. The "Barks and Books" program gives children with learning disabilities and cognitive impairments the opportunity to interact and read. Dogs are specially trained to work with children with special needs.

6 weeks on and 6 weeks off is the time frame for workshops.

Showed sensory toys - sensory balls, magnatiles, "sensory shapes", parachutes, ball "pits" in small swimming pools. Parachutes are excellent for building gross motor skills (up ad down). Ball pits are anxiety reducing / color stimulate senses, balls against body helps children to understand where body begins / ends (proprioception). Way to play in an enclosed space, but feel less anxious, social skills improve and can even play together. Kodo ball run, (which is where we got our wind tunnel from!) geared towards younger children, STEM, properties of gravity - has a pattern for them to feel, able to push ball ($150). Reciprocal play is very important.

"Sensory Art Day" - Art therapy studies with autistic children - "art as an intervention tool with autism" - when a child is developing 0-3/4 neurotypical children develop synapses through emergent literacy, etc. The brain becomes more efficient it drops connections that don't serve it well. A child with Autism often has a larger brain because the synapses do not drop off, more matter. Art therapy helps to rewire over time. Simple, but very impactful. Do not need to be specialists or rewire the brain.

Session was offered outside in the park, can be inclusive does not need to be limited because more space (siblings welcome). Shared story of child starting and finishing something for the first time ever.

Art - foam paint (shake can), space sand (can use water with it), tempera paint, chalk, sensory bins - different textures, playdough (VERY popular) tubs of it, bright colors, some will have aversion to texture, water beads (cocoa pebbles) - cool to the touch (simple tt have and touch).

Story - nonverbal child so proud of his creation, he followed staffer until she took a picture of his work. Program took about and 1/2 hours.

Best part of program is it not being in a clinical setting and is free for children.

No specialized training needed. Just an idea of symptoms, open heart and mind, learn from parents about what is best for their child (biggest resources). Siblings and extended family also really need this program - often difficult to go out in public.

About experience and relationship (not the numbers) for these programs. These programs require smaller groups and slowly build because of the special needs families communication / relationships with each other.

Links - see picture

Shopping - lakeshore, discount, amazon

marie plug
mplug@cityofpasadena.net

deborah takahashi
dtakahasi@cityofpasadena.net

Crossover Appeal: Books that Work for Teens and Adults

This program was sponsored by the AAP Children's Library Marketing Committees.  It featured a moderator and a panel composed of four YA authors:

-Matthew Quick (Every Exquisite Thing)
-Robin Talley (Lies We Tell Ourselves)
-Marissa Meyer (Heartless)
-Paul Rudnick (It's All Your Fault)

The moderator, Tina Jordan, noted that a recent survey showed that 55% of YA readers are actually adults - and why this is the case. Although the children's book industry is a relatively new market, it has grown quickly to become worth millions of dollars worldwide, with authors such as JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer becoming favorite authors.

It used to be shameful for adults to read books written for teenagers, never mind admitting that publicly, but nowadays it has become quite common.  Some reasons why:

-escapist appeal - distracts adults from the real world
-the books are exciting and engaging
-full of passion and drama
-discusses important themes of love, friendship and identity

This is the note on which they left us: adults are just people too, and we are entitled to read and like YA as much as anyone!

Gressco does children's

I've only ever known Gressco as the the media locking case folks. But, they also do children's furniture and panel games. Could be some fun stuff for the 2nd floor, or on some of our blank spaces (where ever those might be).
http://www.gresscoltd.com/products/by-manufacturer/the-children-s-furniture-co.html

Dragons in the Library: Tabletop Gaming and the Public Library


This was another fascinating and fun program and a great way to end the conference, presented by two Librarians from Fresno County Public Library. I'm not a gamer, especially RPG, but this was still really interesting. This coming weekend FCPL is presenting their annual 2 day gaming con, BookWrym! In 2014 186 people attended over two days. In 2015, 320 attended. They have many many tables and many DMs (Dungeon Masters). People register in advance and there is a number of different games, not just D&D, but most are still RPG. I could see us doing a program like this as a Cultural Arts Night with games in Teen, Non-Fiction, and Children's. Can't you just see a group playing Bean Farm? Or Codenames? (I feel much cooler just knowing what these are now)
April 30th is tabletop gaming day. Just saying...
The idea behind alternative programming like this is to bring non-traditional library users to programs. Studies show "those people" are coming to the library. But, they do not attend programs. So, new programs=new users. Also, these alternative programs help to build a community, beyond books.
Other programs beyond gaming are:
Santa Clara offers fitness classes
coloring books for adults (I think we're already looking into this)
trivia nights (hello, San Jose!)
Denver offers "Overdue" Beer, Books, and Bands Together at Last (would Risk Management go for that?)
How to: caching in on the Pinterest and How-to crowd.

From one great iconic nerd:
http://wilwheaton.net/2011/01/librarians-are-awesome/

Building Digitally Inclusive Libraries

This program was fascinating. Don would have loved it, I am sure. There were three speakers, the first being Kelvin Watson, Chief Innovation & Technology Director of the Queens (N.Y.) Public Library.  Queens has developed a virtual library of digital access that keeps people using their tools, even after they leave the library and extends the library beyond its traditional walls. They have 5,000 (!!!) tablets that they loan for 1 month, with an option for 3 months of renewals. When they log in they are taken to the Queens Library Interface which has buffet browsing curated to the needs of the patron. Patrons are able to view training videos, browse events, make donations, and essentially access everything they would via the library website, but now through the tablet. The https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SofOEsh3BNUinternet is accessible, though they make it difficult, and it is filtered. There is less than 10% loss of these devices and 25% of them are loaned in conjunction with a mobile hot spot.
The next two presenters spoke on the same topic, the Library Whitespace Initiative, one of them working as the national team to implement, and the other from the Manhattan (Kansas) Public Library that is using the program. From what I am able to understand, long range wireless data communications is made possible using the free public spectrum that opened ups when TVs went digital. Essentially, wifi travels in the space between the TV signals (the whitespace). There are no towers, no wires, no carriers, no permissions, no monthly fees. Rather, this is like your local network, but over a wide area outside of your library. Like your TV, the waves can travel over small hills, through trees and buildings. There is more access in rural areas where the space between signals is greater. Think of our local stations. There are lots of them in LA, the Bay Area, and other major metropolitan areas. But, a town in Kansas most likely only gets the Topeka affiliate of NBC, ABC, etc. So, they have more "room" for this access.
Check out this youtube video to learn more:

Inside the 2015 New Landmark Libraries

Inside the 2015 New Landmark Libraries (program sponsored by Library Journal)

I wanted to attend this program to hear about the most innovative, recently opened new library buildings or major renovations.  A little background: the New Landmark Libraries honors public libraries completed between 2010 and 2014.  Below are the winners, selected from more than 80 entries by a panel of judges from the field led by project coordinator Emily Puckett Rodgers, School of Information Entrepreneurship Program Manager at the Univ. of Michigan.  

The presenters are showing a powerpoint that breaks down the current trends, along with an example of a library the exemplifies it:

Trend:  Libraries as Placemakers – Jasper Place, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Trend:  Creative Culture Catalysts – Madison Central Library, Wisconsin

Trend:  Aspirational and Accessible – Vancouver Community Library, Washington

Trend:  Libraries Breathe and Grow – Bayview Linda Brooks-Barton Branch, San Francisco Public Library

Trend:  Transparent and Light-filled – Pico Branch, Santa Monica Library

Trend:  Connected to the Environment – St. Helena Branch Library, St. Helena Island, South Carolina

Trend:  Boundless – Lawrence Public Library, Kansas

Mega-Trend: Green, LEED certified – Mitchell Park Library, Palo Alto, CA

Mega-Trend: Sustainable – Cedar Rapids Public Library, Iowa

All in all, this was very interesting, and definitely something I am going to read more about.  For complete profiles, trends and more, refer to the September 15, 2015 issue of Library Journal and Library By Design!