Topic 4: Designing Resource Guides

Designing Resource/Research Guides

Designing resource guides is helpful for both your staff and your patrons. Resource guides provide information and sources to help expand knowledge around a particular subject or issue. Resource guides are an easy way for staff members to gain an understanding of what is available in the community, and they are handy when patrons have questions or concerns. They can be in print and/or electronic format. Resource guides are also helpful to produce in brochure form as a method of providing access to information about which patrons may not want to directly ask questions. Here are a few examples.

Rachel Combs, Public Services Manager of the University of Kentucky Science and Engineering Library created this comprehensive autism LibGuide for the library: http://libguides.uky.edu/autismresources.

The Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut houses a Special Needs Center, located in the Youth Services Department at the Main Library, which serves the information and access needs of local families who have children with disabilities, by providing workstations with assistive technology, software to use at home, Learning Kits to Go, specialized programming, and helpful information for parents. In addition to the Center in the library, Special Needs Center clearly lists the adaptations and tools available at the library for patrons with ASD or sensory processing disorders as well as local organizations and other helpful resources. The Ferguson Public Library's brochure on "Keys to a Successful Library Visit for your Child with ASD" is available in PDF form on their website, as well as in physical form at the library. The brochure suggests ways to make a library visit go more smoothly with tips to do at home before the visit, as well as what to do while at the library.

(Source: http://fergusonlibrary.org/youth/special-needs-center/local-organizations/)

The Fairfield County area of Connecticut offers a range of additional autism-related resources available to individuals with ASD and their families or caregivers, such as:

The Southfield Center for Development, a family-centered, interdisciplinary practice, dedicated to providing comprehensive evaluation and care across a wide range of ages and challenges, offering services like tutoring, physical and occupational therapy, advocacy, and speech and language skills. 85 Old Kings Highway North, Darien, CT, 06820, 203.202.7654

Stamford's SEED Center works to provide therapeutic services that positively impact the lives of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder through services including counseling, physical, occupational and speech therapy, and home therapy for individuals with autism. 30 Buxton Road, Suite 105, Stamford, CT, 06905, 203.674.8200

Autism Parents Club of CT is a parent support group that meets the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 at Wilton's John's Best Restaurant. 1 Danbury Road, WIlton, CT, 06897, 203.761.0248

Children's Academy CT is an in-home and community-based program committed to providing resources and support for children, birth to nine, with autism. 914-374-2601.

References

Autism parents club of CT. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/autismparentsclubct/.

Children's academy CT. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.childrensacademyct.com/.

[Dan Weiss]. (2014, June 24). Libraries and autism: We're connected [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/s9LQDhdaE8g.

Dimensions. (n.d.) Autism friendly libraries: Tips for library staff and volunteers. Retrieved from http://www.ascel.org.uk/news/autism-friendly-libraries.

Ferguson Library. (n.d.). Keys to a successful library visit for your child with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Retrieved from http://fergusonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/ASDVisit.pdf.

Ferguson Library (n.d.). Local organizations. Retrieved from http://fergusonlibrary.org/youth/special-needs-center/local-organizations/.

Ferguson Library. (n.d.). Special needs center. Retrieved from http://fergusonlibrary.org/youth/special-needs-center/.

Programming strategies that work. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://librariesandautism.org/strategies.htm.

Project ENABLE. (n.d.). Vision and goals. Retrieved from https://projectenable.syr.edu/Our-Vision.

SEED Center. (n.d.). SEED center. Retrieved from http://www.seedautismcenter.com/.

Southfield Center for Development (n.d.). Southfield center for development. Retrieved from http://www.southfieldcenter.com/.