Social story topics
Social story: Visiting the library
Libraries have their own rules, and most of them are unspoken: quiet voices, books that go back where they came from, a card to scan, a date to remember. For autistic and neurodivergent students the quiet can be a relief, but the rules and the choosing can be overwhelming without a plan.
This story sets out the visit in order: walking in, choosing, the borrowing desk, and the book coming home and going back. It suits both the school library and the local one. Read it before the first visit and give the student a small choosing rule, such as two books from one shelf.
A sample story
My Visit to the Library
- 1First, I walk into the library and find a bookshelf.
- 2The library has many books I can look at.
- 3The librarian knows which books are easy to find.
- 4Then I pick up one book, hold it with both hands, and walk to the library desk.
- 5Finally, I borrow my book and I feel proud to carry it home.
A sample made with HandsOnTop. Yours is written for your student.
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Tips for using it
- Give a simple choosing rule so the shelves do not become a wall of decisions.
- Practise the borrowing desk once with the librarian watching kindly.
- Put the return day on the visual timetable or the fridge.
Common questions
Is this for the school library or the public library?
Either. Change the topic to say which one and whether the student goes with the class or with family, and the story will match.
Can it mention the self-checkout machine?
Yes. If the library has one, describe it, including the beep. Machines are often the favourite part once they are familiar.
How do we handle forgotten returns?
Put a page about the return day in the story and pair it with a picture on the visual timetable. The story takes the blame out of a late book.