TENBURY library has marked World Autism Awareness Day.

To coincide with the day, Worcestershire libraries are celebrating one year of being “Autism Friendly”.

It is almost exactly a year since the County’s Libraries and Learning Service has signed up to the Autism Friendly Library standard. The initiative was launched in libraries across Worcestershire to coincide with last year’s World Autism Awareness Day Monday, April 2.

“We are delighted with the response that has followed our adoption of Autism Friendly Library Standard during World Autism Awareness Day last year,” said Natalie McVey of the Library Service.

“It is so rewarding to know that we can enable more people to access and benefit from the wonderful resources and facilities on offer in our libraries.”

In preparation for signing up to the Standard, library staff attended autism awareness training and managers have identified a quiet, safe place in each library which can be used when a customer experiences a sensory overload.

All Worcestershire libraries displays posters and information to let people know that the library is autism friendly and what this means, so that everyone understands what to expect.

There are also plans to build on the services that are currently offered – with options in discussion to introduce film clubs, readers groups and adult and community learning courses.

To mark the 12-month milestone, Worcestershire Libraries made a short video about the changes and what it has meant to people with autism getting the most from their local library.

The video is available on the County Council’s YouTube channel .