Autism Friendly Libraries: a practical guide to inclusive spaces

Libraries play a vital role in communities, offering safe, welcoming spaces for learning, connection and discovery. This guide has been developed to support libraries in becoming more autism friendly and accessible for neurodivergent people.

Created in partnership with ASCEL and Libraries Connected, and informed by autistic people and autism specialists, this resource provides practical, easy‑to‑apply guidance for library staff and teams. It explores autism and sensory differences, offers advice on communication and environmental adjustments, and shares ideas for supporting autistic visitors.

From reducing sensory barriers and sharing clear information to promoting autism friendly services and events, the guide is designed to help libraries at any stage of their inclusion journey. By using this resource, libraries can help ensure autistic people feel understood, respected and welcome in their local library.