Making your own sensory map by

Visual Story exampls

2026-05-12 13:59:19 UTC

Sensory map examples

2026-05-12 13:59:56 UTC

2026-05-12 15:04:40 UTC

More accessibility

2026-05-12 15:04:56 UTC

Creating a more inclusive and accessible space to encourage more people to visit and utilise the library and see it as a safe space

2026-05-12 15:05:06 UTC

Helping library users feel more comfortable and confident using the space

2026-05-12 15:05:07 UTC

The UEA library sensory maps were very helpful in designing our own (draft) sensory maps!

Advantages

2026-05-12 15:05:19 UTC

Inclusivity. Validate users experiences. Help us understand user experiences. Ideas to improve user experience where possible.

kathryntyne — 2026-05-12 15:05:21 UTC

allows people to plan ahead and mitigate things they're worried about

meaningful inclusivity

2026-05-12 15:05:27 UTC

It would benefit everyone

omonaghan — 2026-05-12 15:05:36 UTC

Currently it is very difficult to know what is in the Library and especially for students who are anxious to step into the library or who struggle due to it being overwhelming once they are in the building. We have a sensory room but I'm not sure many people know it is there.

2026-05-12 15:05:36 UTC

Design: Professional map design. Having too many icons. Legibility.

2026-05-12 15:05:40 UTC

let users know where specific spaces are and allows them to behave without feeling judged

2026-05-12 15:05:46 UTC

Open plan spaces make noise levels unpredictable - "silent" zone isn't necessarily silent as noise travels. Could be confusing/disappointing.

Wellcome Collection

uczcdfl — 2026-05-12 15:05:50 UTC

Looooove all the info and desription that Wellcome Collection have: https://wellcomecollection.org/visit-us/accessibility

2026-05-12 15:05:51 UTC

Students can share their own needs - we've made a few changes to library equipment provision (e.g. location of computer monitors) that have been driven more by what we think students might want/need rather than coming from students themselves

jmeek10_2 — 2026-05-12 15:06:01 UTC

Even just having one acknowledges that the library thinks these things are important, which helps people feel like they belong in the space and their needs matter

2026-05-12 15:06:03 UTC

Our users are really busy - finding the time for them to contribute would be hard.

2026-05-12 15:06:05 UTC

Time, engagement from staff and students at all levels, monetary aspect for design.

2026-05-12 15:06:21 UTC

lack of time/no EDI librarian or someone with this responsibility

2026-05-12 15:06:25 UTC

Getting students / library users to help co-create to make maps meaningful and validate the designs.

libteaching2 — 2026-05-12 15:06:28 UTC

Colleagues in our Helpdesk Team have made an amazing Sensory Map for our Library at University of East Anglia. More context in their blogpost: https://uea-uk.libguides.com/blogs/library-news/introducing-sensory-maps-to-the-library

2026-05-12 15:06:29 UTC

Gives patrons information that helps them make choices independently using resources to plan their visit

2026-05-12 15:06:37 UTC

Help make our old and historic buildings feel less intimidating - we regularly get feedback our spaces could be more welcoming

Opportunities to learn how we could improve our users' experience.

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2026-05-12 15:06:48 UTC

There isn't any money to change the library radically

kathryntyne — 2026-05-12 15:06:51 UTC

tendency to make value judgements (too hot, too cold, too bright, too dark...) when neutral language would be preferred

2026-05-12 15:06:59 UTC

I had never even heard of them before! this is great

2026-05-12 15:07:03 UTC

Keeping it up to date. The busy parts of our library can every year with each new batch of students

2026-05-12 15:07:03 UTC

I have included a map which highlights quiet / less quiet areas as part of a bigger guide that explained about heating, noises, lighting in different rooms of the bigger building

2026-05-12 15:07:11 UTC

How to share sensory maps so that our users know they exist and how to find them (currently we have no maps of our library in print or on our website)

2026-05-12 15:07:16 UTC

24/7 library with staff here 9am-5pm - how to create a map that can reflect changing use patterns through the day when staff aren't even always aware of what those changes are?

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2026-05-12 15:07:35 UTC

Ensuring various different viewpoints are reflected, when it can be difficult to find the time for this work or to engage library patrons in responding to feedback requests etc. Some things are difficult to predict or report on. Also I would imagine it's not that easy creating a map that isn't overwhelming in itself to look at!

2026-05-12 15:07:45 UTC

How to describe areas which students experienced differently. Who gets the final word?

Ableist attitudes from not understanding disability and inclusivity.

2026-05-12 15:07:46 UTC

Constant changes and lack of money

omonaghan — 2026-05-12 15:07:52 UTC

There is constant movement and waiting for approval for redesign and redistribution of furniture. It feels like when you make a map it would go out of date very quickly. Also, we are so under-resourced now due to financial cuts.

British Museum

2026-05-12 15:07:58 UTC

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No designated accessibility librarian

2026-05-12 15:07:59 UTC

Changes in the sapce. Sometimes it's like painting the Forth bridge, as soon as you have the design, the library has changed.

2026-05-12 15:08:03 UTC

Help users find new spaces! Our occupancy data can show parts of the buildings are way busier than others, giving the perception there's no quiet spaces

Historic England

2026-05-12 15:08:14 UTC

Lack of buy in from management.

2026-05-12 15:08:21 UTC

2026-05-12 15:08:24 UTC

time of the users to want to engage with a guide rather than just going ahead and using the library

The environment can change as the day goes by, and in 24/7 libraries, staff might not be aware of all of these changes.

2026-05-12 15:08:28 UTC

The opportunity to work with students and created a resource that would work for all :)

2026-05-12 15:08:58 UTC

2026-05-12 15:24:18 UTC

There's no information about the staff areas which is understandable as it isn't relevant to students. Library staff may find this useful as part of their induction though?

Sometime working near fresh air is calming - are any windows openable?

2026-05-12 15:25:19 UTC

uczcdfl — 2026-05-12 15:26:30 UTC

Just based on a past library I worked in, I always pointed out really nice views from the library. Ones that were like, go look at some trees as a quick study break. Maybe something like that?

calcconference — 2026-05-12 15:38:49 UTC

Possibly having some permanent/semi-permanent copies in the potentially more problematic areas; like "noisy here? here's some other spaces..." ?