Innovative Sensory Library Project launches in Coventry

Coventry sensory library is launching this March at Coventry Central library.

It will feature:

A range of sensory equipment such as noise cancelling headphones
Weighted lap pads
Various sensory lights

There will be a launch event on Tuesday 4 March at 2pm in Central library. Once the event is finished all the items will be available to borrow free of charge from Coventry Central library with a library card. People will be able to try out the sensory equipment in the display cases next to the library’s VR room, or speak to a member of staff at the library’s front desk. The list of items will also feature in the library’s online catalogue.

Alex Hilton, founder of Coventry Sensory Library

Alex Hilton, who started the project writes: "I was supported by Grapevine to hold a table at collaboration station in August 2023 to talk about setting up a library of sensory items. They introduced me to Coventry Resting Spaces and we have worked on the sensory library project together. It’s really satisfying to see it come together into a project!"

The project is funded by the Heart of England Community Foundation through the

Coventry, Solihull, and Warwickshire Fund, this project is part of the Foundation’s

commitment to supporting grassroots initiatives and change lives locally. It is being hosted and logistically supported by Coventry Central Library.

I’m autistic and I've found that autistic sensory processing is not typically well catered for in society.

"Sensory stimuli can easily cause overwhelm and distress for autistic people. I've experienced having to leave a job due to autistic burnout, where sensory overload from both the work environment and the journey to work was a big contributing factor."

"Sensory equipment can be expensive and it can be difficult for people to know what they need. For example when I was diagnosed in 2005 at 21, I was told there was no support for autistic adults, and it took me a long time to work out when my distress was related to sensory issues and what I needed. I now have noise cancelling headphones that I got through access to work funding in 2021, but if I'd had support to understand my sensory needs and try different equipment earlier then things would have been easier."

I wanted to support people in my community and offer them the chance to try out a range of equipment so they can see what best meets their needs. We had some feedback that there were a lot of other groups that would benefit from a sensory library as well as people with autism, so I want to emphasise that the library is for anyone who wants to use it.

"I’m also passionate about the environment, and the sensory library has an environmental benefit as sharing reduces the number of items manufactured and ultimately sent to landfill."

The sensory Library will be accessible from 4th of March 2025 for anyone with a Coventry library card. Items are visible in the display cases next to the VR room with the full range accessible via the library's online catalogue.