Martin County libraries introduce sensory bags and plan countywide staff training by early 2025

Martin County’s library system expanded services in 2024 by introducing sensory bags at all six branches to support patrons with sensory-processing differences, a library staff member said.

The program is intended to help “our neurodivergent population and anybody who experiences sensory processing differences,” the library staff member said. Each sensory bag contains noise-mitigating headphones, a weighted blanket, communication cards and several fidget tools.

The bags are available at front desks and children’s desks across the library system. Patrons must present a library card for checkout, and the bags may be used only while the patron is inside the library, the staff member said.

The rollout is part of the library system’s long-range service plan and includes training for employees and volunteers. “By early 2025, all county library staff and volunteers will be trained in sensory inclusivity,” the library staff member said, adding the training provides staff with language and techniques to help patrons who are experiencing sensory overload.

Library staff described the weighted blanket as intended to help patrons feel more secure, and communication cards as a tool for patrons who have difficulty speaking to convey needs to staff. The library staff member noted that what some patrons consider a quiet environment can nonetheless have areas, particularly children’s departments, that are overstimulating for others.

The library system did not specify a budget for the sensory-bag program, nor did the staff member provide a precise training curriculum or vendor details during these remarks.