Building excellence in the Cultural Sector: Merton Libraries

In 2019, Merton Libraries undertook a refurbishment of the children’s sections of each of its seven local libraries.

Project overview

Looking to improve its offer to children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, the libraries took inspiration from the sensory environments created by commercial visitor attractions to create a different theme in each library location, such as the circus, jungle or forest with wall paintings, sound environments, light and specialist equipment. The library service took a holistic project approach – in addition to physical works, it devised a concurrent programme of training, stock replacement and events and activities to take place over 12 months. Delivered with almost complete continuity of service, early outcomes suggest a range of positive impacts for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and non-SEND children, as well as knock-on, and in some cases unintended, benefits for their families, other library users and the Merton Library service. 

Facts and figures 

Type of project: Internal fit-out

Capital cost: £84,827

Funding: £95,000 from Arts Council England 

Build time: May to October 2019

The project team: Lisa Mustoe, Library Service Manager (project manager); Library senior management team; Library managers and library staff; Stock manager; Service development team; Merton Library Service (Client); Jenny Leonard (Artist); Eco Scent (Scent company); Inclusive Technology (Specialist toys and equipment); Blades (Sensory grass and sea carpets); Props 4 Shows (Themed props) 

The capital works 

The work involved the redecoration and fit out of the children’s libraries in all seven of Merton’s public libraries to create seven differently themed spaces. This created a fully inclusive, multi-sensory experience for children, families and carers. Walls have been painted and equipment and lighting/sound systems installed. 

Creating inclusive sensory library environments

Merton libraries has been delivering a strategy over recent years to transform its library services through innovation, collaboration and consultation. Changes include a new library at Colliers Wood, the introduction of a libraries and schools membership scheme, introducing integrated nurseries in two local libraries, and transforming space at Wimbledon library to create an evening performance venue and two exhibitions rooms, with a smaller arts space at Mitcham Library. The London borough, that has six dedicated SEND schools, has a substantial number of families with children with SEND needs and the figures are higher than lots of its neighbouring boroughs. The service felt improvements were necessary to cater better to children and young people with SEND and their families and, inspired by the multi-sensory Gruffalo ride at Chessington, they developed a concept for installing sensory environments in their children’s libraries. 

The project, managed by Lisa Mustoe, Library Service Manager, aimed to:  

• improve the offer for children with SEND needs, making them feel more welcome and able to visit the library regularly 
• cater better to families that include children with and without SEND, providing a place where they could come as a family unit 
• improve the understanding of SEND needs by children, adults and library staff and volunteers

Consultation  

The libraries team members reached out to as wide a community as they could. They found that families were experiencing a number of barriers. Lisa says, ‘We consulted with local schools’ headteachers, local groups like Kids First (a local borough network), visual impairment groups and providers of local activities and events. We had sessions to describe the concepts and hear about people’s needs, thoughts and feelings in response. The most beneficial sessions were with parents and carers. Very few were using the libraries themselves; they were aware of them but they found too many barriers got in the way.’ Lisa and the team learnt that the libraries were missing simple but important equipment such as ear defenders, that parents were anxious about staff and other users’ responses to children’s’ behaviour (for example if they had an episode during a visit) and there wasn’t enough stock of the right type to justify a visit or longer stay.  

Parents, carers and others were able to share their own knowledge and experience to shape the proposals further, for example commenting on particularly useful equipment. The team also visited other sites including Discover in Stratford and West Sussex Library Service as part of its research and went to look at equipment suppliers’ products in situ. 

As a result of the consultation and research, Lisa developed a plan to transform the children’s areas into spaces that appealed to the senses: touch, smell, movement, balance, sight and hearing, all helping to improve communication skills while encouraging reading and giving children somewhere fun to learn. Seven different themes were chosen (jungle, circus, Arctic, space, under the sea, weather and forest) with appropriate and differing equipment and seating chosen to animate each space. 

The programme of work went beyond a simple refurbishment to include: 

• investing in smaller pieces of specialist equipment that can be readily available such as ear defenders and pop-up dark dens in all seven libraries 
• purchasing specially-adapted toys to be used in activity sessions as well as recordable photo albums, voice recorders and other equipment – all of which can loaned out for families to take home 
• the introduction of simple lanyards that can be worn by SEND visitors so that staff can anticipate needs better 
• staff and volunteer training and awareness raising in relation to autism, deafness and 
• visual impairment 
• increased offer of specialist book stock 
• public performances and events to draw families and carers into the library 
• library staff and volunteers will be working with mainstream schools and other partners to break down barriers and dispel misconceptions of special educational needs and disabilities 
• dedicated family learning courses for parents and carers, which include stress busting and personal wellbeing, Next Steps – Your Time (life coaching, steps back into employment and education) and a family history project for parents and carers to build and create an interactive book together   

Funding was secured from Arts Council England. Lisa recounts, ‘We received lots of calls from people interested in the project right from the start at the consultation stage. With excellent support partners and this depth to our understanding, by the time we put our funding application together it was easy to answer all the questions.’    

Delivering the refit 

The project was managed in-house with Lisa completing as much of the work as possible herself – even sourcing coconuts, palm trees and hanging circus drapes. The refit was delivered over a five-month period with continuity of service throughout; just one afternoon of closure was needed to lay a sensory Arctic blue sea carpet. Originally conceived as a sequential programme, the work was delivered concurrently in different sites, juggled around existing programmes, adapting to a few minor unforeseen delays. A local artist was employed to create the backdrops and the gradual changes proved to be a good communications opportunity with visitors enjoying the ‘works in progress’. They also used the adjusted timetable to deliver staff and volunteer training. 

Outcomes and tips 

The first new space opened in July 2019, with the events programme kicking off in December and a formal opening in January 2020. The decision to create seven different themes means that children and their families have a reason to explore all the different libraries, as well as being able to provide different forms of stimulus and learning content in each place to suit a variety of needs. So far, the project has been a great success. One child has become a regular user, after their first visit to the circus and the opportunity to read with a ‘clown’ (library staff or volunteer). The benefits have been felt by other users including adults – some even requesting the relaxing music for the space environment! Lisa said- ‘We’ve noticed it having an effect over everyone. In one library where we have in the past had some challenges around noise in the IT area, we’ve seen a reduced number of incidents and complaints because of the calming music from the children’s area.’ 

The changes have also prompted the library service to consider the needs of parents and carers of SEND children and the types of service that it might offer.   Lisa explains, ‘Through the project we have become aware of a much wider picture – there’s a substantial need to help parents of SEND kids and carers, who told us of feelings of isolation, exhaustion and loss of self-worth. So now we’re thinking about some wider adult learning initiatives and how to help the whole family unit even more.’ 

The library service is hoping in time that the project will break down barriers and dispel misconceptions of special educational needs and disabilities, as well as reducing isolation and opening up opportunities for children and their families. 

Lisa reflects on the importance of the consultation: ‘Conduct as much research as you can before you start. Consultees need some structure to be able to contribute. Know what your objectives and outcomes are but be prepared to build on this and listen to people who have first-hand experience. And make sure you can respond to feedback once it’s finished; we’re still adding features based on people’s suggestions.’ She also feels strongly that it’s important to think outside the usual box. ‘Libraries need to be as creative as possible,’ she says. ‘The physical environment and library activities are just as important as the book offer. Be adventurous and creative with concepts and ideas. Yes, you can bring the jungle or the artic to the library! And never say never!’