Member Libraries

The purpose of this page to promote Illinois library programs and services to children and teens with special needs. If you represent a public library in Illinois and want to expand programs and services, you can join SNAILS as a member library. Simply attend one of our upcoming meetings. If you cannot attend a meeting, your library can still become a member. To add/edit information about your library's services to this page or to to be included on the SNAILS distribution list, simply send an email to hjin(at)skokielibrary.info. We look forward to connecting with you!

Addison Public Library

Algonquin Area Public Library: Creative Connections is a weekly inclusive storytime for families with children with speech, motor or other developmental delays, aged 5 and under. Perspective Play is a Saturday program once a month for children with autism to meet with peers, ages 3-7. All of our youth programs are inclusive of all abilities. An aide and/or accommodations are available with prior notice at all library events. We circulate adaptive books and some manipulatives. We have recently added a wellness room for children needing a quiet break from the sensory experience of our play area.

Arlington Heights Memorial Library: offers Rainbow Time, which is a literacy program utilizing trained therapy dogs for children; offers Sensory Storytime every other month; collection of iPads with apps specially for children with special needs; runs a special Digital Storytime program utilizing animated picture books and ebooks; launched an unstructured play program for children of all abilities called Sensory Play; has page on the library's website devoted to highlighting special needs resources for parents and professional; created an e-newsletter called "The Special Child" specifically highlighting library programs and resources for parents with children with special needs; offers the Lindsay Room (their programming room) to be booked for parents with children who need a calm, quiet place: the room has dim lighting, low music, sensory toys, and is called "My Space," which is always offered after Sensory Storytime ends; launched a "Stories of Autism campaign in the library; all library staff were trained on autism awareness and during the month of April, staff were encouraged to wear bracelets and give out stickers about Autism Awareness Month; offers an inclusive Play Group program for all patrons even without AHML library cards with unstructured exploration play stations around the Children's Department; offers a This is My Library social story on library website

Antioch Public Library District

Aurora Public Library

Batavia Public Library: partners with local special education classes to bring students to visit the library; created a "Welcome to the Library" social story; circulates fine motor skills and sensory bags and other games and kits to teach learning skills; has a page on the library website devoted to special needs resources; offers Inclusion Game Night for teen and young adults of all abilities, their families and friends on the second Wednesday of the month which includes board and card games from 6:30 to 7:45 pm and then bingo with prizes until 8:30 pm, and Inclusion Movie Night for teens and young adults of all abilities on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

Bloomingdale Public Library

Bridgeview Public Library

Brookfield Public Library: offers a Sensory Table in children's program and children's department; uses "story tins" or sensory boxes in existing children's programs, which are boxes full of tactile objects related to a particular story or folktale; in collaboration with local special education teachers to expand services and programs; has an interest in increasing programs and services for teens and young adults with special needs

Carol Stream Public Library

Chatham Area Public Library

Chicago Public Library: Sensory Storytime for all children up to age 12 offered monthly at Harold Washington Library Center, Woodson Regional, and Sulzer Regional; website features autism resources, including accessibility guides, helpful websites, and book recommendations; some branch librarians lead class visits from local special education schools

Crestwood Public Library

Crete Public Library District

Crystal Lake Public Library:

Crystal Lake offers a monthly Second Saturday Sensory Storytime that is for children ages 3-8 and their families. They have created a social story, "Storytime at the Library," and they also offer outreach for the district's special needs early childhood classes.

Deerfield Public Library: hosts monthly Sensory Storytimes, Sensory Friendly Films, STEM-sory programs, and Sensory Playtime. They also offer a Library social story online and at public desks, and they have recently set up Sensory Kits at all public desks as well. In an effort to make the library a welcoming space for all library users, these sensory kits include 6 different fidgets, a pair of noise-canceling headphones, a mirror, and two emotions sheets, meant to be used in the library. Patrons are encouraged to use items as they please and without feeling the need to ask anyone, and are just asked to return items before leaving the library.

Des Plaines Public Library

Downers Grove Public Library

Ela Area Public Library: has led focus groups with local stakeholders in the community to begin expanding services to patrons with special needs; offers a monthly Sensory Storytime; visited local special education district to observe classrooms; brought in a local special needs professional to address space concerns and needs from the perspective of a person with special needs; staff have participated in ALA online courses; offer a special storytime with trained therapy dogs;

Elmhurst Public Library

Fountaindale Public Library:

Fox River Grove Memorial Library

Gail Borden Public Library: Offers Sensory Storytimes, hosted by a retired special needs teacher;  Hosts Developmental Screening programs with partnering organizations and a Pediatric Therapeutic Playgroup, an inclusive playgroup for children who currently receive therapy services or may benefit from therapeutic play, ages 0-5. Screens “No Shushing” Movies; Provides accessible toys in-house and for check out; Offers Messy Play on the Patio, a weekly exploratory sensory play focused on learning and discovery; share resources on Ready, Set, Read Blog for Children with Special Needs; Hosts special education classes for tours and activities and goes out to Special Education classrooms.

Geneva Public Library District: just beginning expanding services and programs with patrons with special needs and hoping to learn

Glen Elyn Public Library: Glen Elyn Public Library: hosts a monthly Sensory Saturday with inclusive activity stations featuring art projects and sensory play; provides a downloadable "This is my Library" social story for patrons to prepare for library visits with an introductory video; installed Boardmaker software on patron computers; provides life skills programs and outreach visits to local students with disabilities; offers an online library presence with a "Special Needs" youth webpage; offers a circulating collection of adapted books for patrons with disabilities created and donated to the library by Leap into Literacy; provides a Sensory Box filled with a collection of calming objects and coping tools; launched an independent/adaptive summer reading program for all ages. 

hosts a month Sensory Storytime program starting April, 2016; provides a downloadable "This is my Library" social story for patrons to prepare for library visits; provides Life Skills programs and outreach visits to local high school students with disabilities; offers an online library presence with their "Special Needs" youth webpage; offers a circulating collection of adapted books for patrons with disabilities created and donated to the library by Leap into Literacy;

Glencoe Public Library: provides a downloadable "This Is My Library" social story for children and young adults with special needs to prepare for library visits; offers a handout for parents and caregivers about utilizing the library with their child with special needs; participant in NSSED library survey assessing need and interest in local special education district with expanding library services; leads visits from local special education elementary and junior high classrooms; has offered a special before library hours Open House promoting library programs and services to parents with children with special needs; offers a literacy program with the K-9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore for children to read to trained therapy dogs; represents the library and its services at local parent fairs

Glenside Public Library District: local special education classes make visits to the library weekly; provide outreach to special education classes; in planning process to launch a new Sensory Storytime program

Glenview Public Library: Monthly Friendship Club for children in grades 3-8 where Friendship Ambassadors in 4-12th grade create a safe place to enjoy a program and make friends.

Green Hills Public Library District

Helen Plum Memorial Library: provides outreach to local special education classes with special storytime; creating a circulating collection of sensory kits with sensory toys and resources for parents to use with children

Highland Park Public Library

Hillside Public Library

Indian Trails Public Library: interested in learning more about Sensory Storytime and other programs to expand programs for children with special needs

Joliet Public Library: quarterly Sensory Playtimes, Special Needs Paint Nights, and Hands on Fun for Tweens and Teens

La Grange Public Library

La Grange Park Public Library: Social Story, Sensory Friendly Movie Showings, Sensory Table, Sensory Kit

Lake Forest Library:

Lincoln Public Library

Lisle Library District

McHenry Public Library District 

Morton Grove Public Library

Mount Prospect Public Library: added special schedules and supports to annual summer reading program especially designed for children with special needs; leads special storytimes for local special education classrooms; offers a circulating toy collection, which includes adapted and sensory toys; has created Library social stories; staff have received training about serving patrons with special needs; library has a thriving volunteer program, utilizing the assistance of several people with disabilities; will offer support to patrons with staff as aids upon request

Naperville Public Library: offers a special needs storytime on Saturdays led by rotating group of youth service staff; young adults through a local agency/organization make visits to the library and volunteer to assist with library duties; leads library visits from special education classes; library staff have received training from local special education teachers

Niles-Maine Distict Library: offers inclusive programming for children of all abilities; librarians are working on developing outreach to local special education classrooms as well as field trips to the library; Adaptive Hour program held quarterly in which the KidSpace is open an hour early on Sundays for children with special needs and their families; has offered therapy dog programs for children of all abilities; hosts Reading Buddies inclusive program which pairs teen volunteers with pre- or beginning readers.

Northbrook Public Library: houses a Special Needs Collection with curated backpacks that focus on life skills; has regular library visits from The Center on Deafness; staff have received Disability Awareness Training from TotalLink2Community; offers quarterly Accessibility Hour programming for families with children with special needs to visit the library before regular operating hours;hosted parent workshops about special needs topics; has sensory movie programming for adults and children with special needs.

Oak Lawn Public Library: offers workshops to informed parents about resources for patrons with visual impairments; leads library visits from special education classes; does not offer a specific storytime designed for children with special needs, but has a more inclusive model and makes accommodations for patrons as needed; uses sign language in storytimes and other programs

Oak Park Public Library: Prepare for visits with our "This is My Library" social story; weekly Supported Storytimes and Play, which include weighted lap blankets, fidget toys, and individual schedules, and monthly themes that culminate in special events, such as nature exploration and cooking; circulating backpacks with various activities to explore at home, including a few "Missy's Backpacks" which come with Boardmaker adapted books and activities; accessible sensory garden at Maze Branch, which has raised garden beds for easier access as well as communication boards mounted. Continue to add additional supported programming.

Orland Park Public Library: OPPL is beginning to offer ASD-friendly programming in the fall as well as a monthly Special Needs Parenting Support Group starting in September 2018. We offer a variety of sensory toys and tools that can be used in a quiet study room or in another quiet area of the youth department. Our Adult Services department is offering a special series of Autism programming in September 20180with two sessions: Unlocking Autism and Practical Strategies for Children with Autism. We hope to strengthen relationships with the special needs community and learn how we can best meet their needs.

Park Ridge Public Library: offered Sensory Storytime on a monthly basis, but because of low attendance, now offers the program on a quarterly basis; developed a partnership with local agency "Have Dreams;" has a more inclusive program model offering music and movement programs for children of all abilities

Plainfield Public Library District: offers Sensory Storytime for children with special needs; utilizes sensory boxes; established a collaboration with special education district and parent group to inform programming and services

St. Charles Public Library

Schaumburg Public Library: Offers a bimonthly sensory storytime for 3-6 year olds followed by a sensory play group for children ages birth-6 and their families.  They also have a bimonthly sensory puppet show for 3-6 year olds and a Read to a Dog Program for children ages 6-14.  They have a toy lending library that includes some sensory toys and a special needs book collection for parents and caregivers.

Shorewood-Troy Public Library

Skokie Public Library: offers three monthly programs for children with special needs: Club Wonder for children ages 3 to 7 and their families through partnership with various special needs organizations, Rainbow (Animal Assisted) Therapy Time for children ages 7 to 12, and an inclusive social group named Friend Squad for teens ages 11-16. Hosts occasional parent workshops on special needs topics with child care; in partnership with Niles Township District for Special education hosts class visits, tween gaming, family nights, and an annual Spring Fling - a special stage performance for the entire student body; offers adapted and sensory toys for use in the Library; Zac Browser is installed on all computers in the Youth Computer Lab; houses a Special Needs Collection with Hi-Lo, Braille, and Boardmaker adapted books; downloadable "I Can Go to Skokie Public Library" social story for children to prepare for their visit, library video tour for parents and caregivers promoting library's services to patrons with special needs; has a dedicated space on the library's website with resources for children with special needs; past programs include Braille Buddies, Community Special Education Night, Kids Just Want to Have Fun and others.

Stickney-Forest View Public Library:

Thomas Ford Memorial Library

Tinley Park Public Library

Town & Country Public Library

Vernon Area Public Library District: has worked with local special education classes and made visits to local schools; leads library tours and special storytimes for special education classes; has offered a book discussion program called Face-It serving young adults in a local detention center

Villa Park Public Library: Monthly Sensory Storytimes on Wednesday mornings


Warren Newport Public Library: offers a Sensory Storytime program once a month with sensory manipulatives and large group and individual schedules using Boardmaker software; learned from local special ed teacher how to incorporate MeMoves movement activities in library programs; hosts an unstructured program called Sensory Play Time, which was an idea that developed from a partnership with the local recreation center; wants to create a This is My Library social story and dedicate space on library website with resources for parents and caregivers; hoping to reach out to local special education classes and lead library and class visits; 

Warrenville Public Library District: will be offering a multitude of programming for children with special needs; current projects in the works include a volunteer program to give assistance with behavioral support during library programs; sensory friendly film programs; outreach to special education classes; sibling support workshops; special library tours for families with children with special needs; will be collaborating with local organizations and businesses to provide programs with life skill training and experiences for children with special needs (ex. visits to local restaurants, hair dressers, etc.)

West Chicago Public Library District: offers a volunteer program that utilizes the assistance of high school students with special needs to provide job training experience; Creating Connections sensory enhanced program designed for children with autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing issues or children who have trouble sitting still every third Saturday, 10:30-11:30 am;This Is My Library social story written to help children prepare to visit the Library for the first time; adapted books, Braille books, e-books and audiovisual materials.

Wheaton Public Library

Wilmette Public Library: hosts Sensory Friendly movie screenings on school holidays based on the AMC model of sensory friendly films -- lights and sound are turned down and the kids are allowed to talk and move about; upon patron request, hires contractors to do additional performances for children with special needs, which require advanced registration and are limited to a low number of attendees in a more intimate, sensory-friendly environment; has hosted a one-hour special needs storytime led by local special education teacher; promotes special needs programs and services on library's social media outlets

Zion-Benton Public Library