This semester, Milner Library added a unique looking set of furniture to the northeast corner of the fourth floor, which is designated as the quiet floor. This “sensory pod” combines adaptive chairs, low lighting, and a circular partition to minimize visual distractions. Designed to better accommodate the needs of neurodivergent students, such as those with ADHD or autism, the pod contains two types of seating: soft rocking chairs for people who concentrate best while stimming and convertible lounge chairs, which allow users to stretch out. Both sets of chairs are legless and low to the ground; this has been demonstrated to assist those with proprioceptive processing issues who might otherwise feel unsteady on taller seating.
Sensory-friendly spaces have seen an uptake in diverse contexts over recent years. They are now being widely adopted across many sectors of public life, ranging from K-12 environments to stadiums, arenas, and concert venues. Several sensory rooms aimed at youth have popped up around Bloomington-Normal, and seven local organizations, including Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington Police and Fire Departments, and Grossinger Motors Arena, have taken steps to become Sensory Inclusive Certified through KultureCity.
Public and academic libraries have also embraced this trend. The University of Tennesse at Chatanooga, for example, coordinated with their autistic students in 2020 to create seven sensory rooms throughout campus. These rooms are frequented by students of all backgrounds and have been demonstrated to reduce stress and anxiety. At the University of St. Francis in Joliet, student Morayma Barron noted that patron response to the sensory room her team installed in the library was “very positive.”
“Survey responses included comments such as, ‘I feel much better after spending 10-15 minutes in the room,’ and ‘the room calmed me before my quiz,’ to ‘I have ADHD and I felt like I could understand the lecture so much better after spending time in the sensory room,'” Barron said.
Milner Library’s sensory pod joins a growing list of adaptive, accessible, and assistive options within the building, including wheelchair-accessible study carrels on the sixth floor and soundproof study pods with adjustable lighting on the fifth floor. As furnishings continue to be refreshed throughout the building, care has been taken to accommodate bodies of all sizes and abilities. In addition, the library’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Committee conducts bi-yearly Multicultural Organizational Development scans of Milner’s public areas with the aim of enhancing all users’ experiences. Their most recent report notes a variety of accessibility features throughout the library, as well as areas for improvement.
