The North Bellmore Public Library is now home to a Sensory Nook Pod — a certified autism resource for children of all ages with special education needs and disabilities.
The new nook, installed in the children’s wing of the library, was made possible through a community revitalization project grant, which was supported by Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio, who represents parts of Merrick and Bellmore.
The nook is International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards-certified for those with autism.
Planning for the Sensory Nook Pod began about three years ago, Jessica Tymecki, the library’s director, told the Herald. At that time, Legislator Tom McKevitt represented the area encompassing the library, at 1551 Newbridge Road. Following the 2023 elections, new district lines were drawn, and the library fell under Giangregorio’s jurisdiction.
“I had a meeting with the company to get an idea of the specs, if it would work for us, because it’s an international company,” Tymecki said of the Sensory Nook Pod. “We reached out to Legislator McKevitt at the time — he thought it was a great project.”
McKevitt brought Giangregorio into the game early, she said, because Giangregorio’s son has special needs, and helping the autism community is a big part of his legislative goals.
“It was a team effort from the very beginning,” Tymecki said.
The nook pod is a highly inclusive, adaptable space that is particularly effective for neurodiverse patrons, including those with autism, ADHD and dyslexia. Equipped with comfortable seating for one to four persons, the nook is a quiet sanctuary that boasts a table and bench seats, color changing lights, and a fiber optic carpet wall panel with a twinkling light effect. The décor of the close-knit cubby serves as a calming refuge for individuals with social and emotional challenges.
The new space at the library was officially unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 1, but had already been in use for several days by library patrons, Tymecki said.
“The community absolutely loves this space,” she said. “I’ve seen all ages in here.”
Whether grandparents are taking their young grandchildren to the library to read books during the day, or older students are completing their homework, the nook has been used by patrons of all ages and abilities since its arrival.
“I’d say third through fifth grade loves the space,” Tymecki said. “After they come out of school, some of them actually have asked to do their homework in this space. It gives them a quiet place to focus.”
The nook is shaped like a miniature house, and students are able to plug in their technology devices. The walls are thick and block out sound, allowing anyone who sits on the bench to feel like they’re inside a quiet refuge.
Tymecki said even though libraries are generally calm environments, for neurodiverse children, the smallest things can make them feel over-stimulated.
“It’s a certified autism resource,” Tymecki said of the nook. “This is like a refuge, or a safe space, where they can come and kind of self-regulate and cope with overstimulation.”
Library officials said that according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder than at any other time in modern history, impacting around one out of every 36 American children. In addition, documented cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the New York and New Jersey metro region increased by as much as 500 percent between 2000 and 2016, with the highest increase among children without intellectual disabilities, according to a recent Rutgers University study.
North Bellmore is the first public library in the state to feature a Sensory Nook Pod, even though other venues in New York make use of them.
Attending the Oct. 1 ribbon cutting were both Giangregorio and McKevitt, along with library staff and board members.
“I am thrilled to have helped secure this grant for the library that allowed this unique workspace to be added to serve neurodiverse children,” Giangregorio said in a press release. “I also want to thank my fellow Legislator Tom McKevitt for starting the grant process. Knowing this is the first of its kind in any public library in New York State makes it even more special for both of us.”
Tymecki said it is important that all children have a place where they can feel comfortable and thrive.
“Community members who are interested in utilizing the nook pod need not to be members of the North Bellmore Public Library — it is open to all,” she added.
For more information on the services offered at the library, visit NorthBellmoreLibrary.org or call (516) 785-6260.