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“The ‘Libraries and Autism’ project has launched a virtual campaign to make libraries aware of people on the autism spectrum and, most notably, to train librarians to assist this growing and underserved population,” said Kathleen Hegarty, awards committee chair. “State sponsorship, able project leadership, the involvement of the autism community and highly effective promotion have contributed to the success of an initiative that has had a national impact.”

Using multiple media and a variety of learning formats, “Libraries and Autism” educates librarians, library staff and school media specialists about autism. The project’s website, , offers extensive resources on the disorder, including print and non-print materials, Web sites and organizations. A training video demonstrates behavior traits of autism and techniques to communicate effectively with and cultivate positive library experiences for patrons with autism. The video is enriched with expert commentary from Dr. Linda Meyers, executive director at the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC), Dr. Jill Harris, director of psychology and coordinator of the Autism Center of Excellence at the Specialized Children’s Hospital (N.J.) and Adrienne Robertiello of the Community Partnership for People with Autism.

The project also includes resources on the Web site for implementing the project at your library including a list of workshop consultants, a non-verbal communication tool, customer service tips, publicity logos and a storybook template—“This is My Library”—that a library can customize to provide a visual pre-visit library tour for a child with autism. Libraries participating in the project can request a “Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected” decal for the library front door or window.

“Libraries and Autism” grew out of the “Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community and Their Families” incubator project, which was made possible by a contract with . The Cooperative and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network.