Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library opens sensory room | News

Reese is a library assistant in the youth department at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library and noticed that some children were overwhelmed by their surroundings, so to create a calming and welcoming environment for all families, she suggested creating a sensory room.

“We see a lot of families here all the time, and you see more and more people who may need a little extra help throughout the day,” she said. “As more and more of these families enjoy coming to the library, the thought was that we could create a space that is accessible not just for children, but for everyone.”

Library officials unveiled the new sensory room during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. It is believed to be only the second such room at a public library in New York State.

Sensory rooms are designed to be a calming place for people who suffer from sensory processing issues. In recent years, they have gained importance as a way to provide a safe place for people with neurodivergent disorders such as autism.

“We started introducing more sensory programs in the library and we found that they were very popular and there was a need for this type of activity,” Reese said. “And we thought, ‘How about a room?'”

Alexandra Gutelius, the library’s director, said the sensory room is a result of the library’s efforts to create a welcoming place for all users, noting that the 6-by-4.8-metre space can be used by anyone looking for a time-out.

The sensory room is located on the ground floor near the library elevator and is equipped with various mood lights and tactile devices mounted on the back wall. There are padded chairs and shelves with various toys and other instruments.

In the middle of the room there is a desk and four chairs.

“I think we see a lot of people bringing their children here who may be autistic or have other needs because they know the library is a safe place,” Gutelius said. “But sometimes the kids get overwhelmed. Even though it’s a quiet place, the children’s library isn’t always a quiet place and the kids didn’t really have a place to relax.”

Gutelius noted that the space is open to anyone, including adults who need a place to relax and people with neurodivergent disorders. The space can be rented for one hour at a time.

The project was funded by a $10,000 donation from the Friends of the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library and a construction grant of over $3,000 from the Southern Adirondack Library System.

Gutelius said the sensory room has been open to the public for several weeks and has received a positive response.

“Some people have already used the space,” she said.

The sensory room is not the only modernization the library has planned for this year.

Work to resurface the facility’s parking lot is expected to begin this week, and two construction projects are expected to advance next week.

These projects include installing a revolving door at the main entrance to the building and modernizing the children’s library with a breastfeeding room, special activity area and modern technology area, as well as new paint and carpets.

Gutelius said the $800,000 upgrades will be partially funded by state grants and work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Children’s storytimes will be held off-campus during construction, but the library will remain open throughout the construction period, she said.

“We have people here all the time and these are things that needed to be done,” Gutelius said.