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Social Story (Accessible, Scoped)

I can go to the library — A Social Story for Everyone

  1. A large brick building sits on the corner of a street. This is a picture of the east facing side of the library. A cartoon image of a girl carrying books and wearing headphones is crossing in the crosswalk.
    I can go to the Library.
    A social story for everyone.
  2. An illustrated figure of a young person is smiling and waving. She is carrying a red book under one arm. The arm she is waving with has a band aid on it. She is wearing headphones and a t-shirt reading 'shine' and a butterfly hovers near her head.

    Table of Contents.

    I can go to the next page to begin exploring the whole library.

    I can go to page 20 to go to the children’s area. I will find items for children on the first floor:

    • DVDs
    • Audiobooks
    • Picture Books
    • Games
    • Fiction and Nonfiction
    • Graphic Novels
    • Early Readers
    • Kits

    I can go to page 31 to go upstairs. I will find items for teens and adults upstairs:

    • DVDs
    • Audiobooks
    • Computers
    • Games
    • Fiction and Nonfiction
    • Graphic Novels
    • Music
    • Teen Space

    Tonya (pronounced TONE-ya) will be my guide as I read this story. I can learn about the real Tonya Yarmakov on page 44.

  3. A sign over the Washington Street entrance reads 'Northfield Public Library'. There are stairs to the left. An illustrated green and purple butterfly hovers over the stairs. A person wearing headphone sis riding the butterfly.

    This is the entrance I will see if I enter from Washington Street.

    I can use stairs or a ramp to get to the building.

  4. Several bikes are locked to a bike rack that sits below street level. A car is in the background.
    If I ride my bike to the library I can lock it to the bike rack.
  5. A hand presses the handicap accessible door button.
    I can pull the handle or I can use the button to open the door.
  6. Two different metal slots marked 'library return'.
    I can return my books one at a time through a slot marked “library return”. There is one on the outside of the building and there is one inside the Washington Street entrance. Sometimes the return slot inside is decorated.
  7. People wait in line to be helped at a service desk. A wheelchair sits in the left of the image. Bright lights are overhead. Black floor mats sit on polished white terrazzo floors.
    This is what I see when I enter the door from Washington Street. To my left is a space called an atrium. It has lots of windows. It might be bright and sunny. Sometimes the shades are down to keep it cool. To my right is the circulation desk. There are water fountains straight ahead.
  8. Two images. In one, a stainless steel water dispenser is shown on a wall. In the other, a person is demonstrating how to activate the touchless water fountain by hovering their hand in front of the sensor.
    I can fill up my water bottle using the filler (on the left) or drink water from the fountain (on the right).
    The water fountain is activated by a sensor. I don’t have to push a button.
  9. a smiling person with long hair is sitting at a desk in front of a computer. She wears a nametag.
    This person works at the circulation desk. Different people may work here every day. I can go here to ask for help with anything in the library.
    Library staff wear name tags.
  10. a group of people sitting in chairs in front of a large window watch a musical performance.
    There may be many people in the atrium.
    Sometimes it is loud, and sometimes it is quiet.
  11. A plastic storage bin labeled 'sensory kit' with items from the kit on display: headphones, dark sunglasses, and various fidgets. An illustrated arm with a band-aid on the elbow points to the kit.
    If I need help finding a quiet space, I can ask a staff person. I can borrow a sensory kit from a staff person. Sensory kits have headphones and other items that might help me enjoy my visit. I can use the items in the sensory kit while I am in the library.
  12. A person standing next to a water bottle refill station uses a rollator.
    This is a rollator. It is always kept by the water fountains when it is not being used. If I need to, I can use it to help me browse and carry books. It is free for anyone to use in the library.
  13. An entry to the library bathrooms is flanked by a glass display case on the left and a painting on the right.
    The bathrooms are next to the Bunday Room. Both bathrooms have a diaper-changing station, a menstrual product dispenser, and a container designed for the safe disposal of hypodermic needles. The toilets flush automatically and make a loud sound.
  14. a cartoon person with headphones and a butterfly. Her shirt reads 'Peace, love, music' and her arms are behind her back.
    Where to next? I can keep going to enter through the Division Street door. I will also see where some library events happen.

    I can skip to page 20 if I want to visit the Children’s Area.

    I can skip to page 31 if I want to go upstairs.
  15. a car is parked in front of a brick building. The sign on its wall reads Northfield Public Library. A cartoon person is riding a butterfly across a dotted line that spans the bottom of the image.
    This is what the Division Street entrance looks like.
    There isn’t a ramp at this entrance so I walk up the stairs to enter the library. I can go to the Washington Street entrance if I need to use a ramp.
  16. concrete steps are painted to resemble stacked spines of picture books.
    The stairs are painted to look like a stack of children’s books. There is more artwork all around the library.
    I can learn more about the library’s artwork by visiting this link: https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/northfield/collection/library-collection
  17. a hallway with bookshelves and a person standing in front of them. Bright lights are overhead, reflecting off polished terrazzo floors.
    This is what I see when I enter through the Division Street entrance. Sometimes there is an event happening in the room to the right. This room is called the Bunday Room and I can often hear it when I enter the building.

    To my left are book sale shelves. I can buy items on these shelves. Next to the book sale are bulletin boards. These have information about events I might want to attend.
  18. Two images. In one, children play a video game projected on a screen. In the other, a group of people sitting at tables in a classroom.
    Sometimes I can go in to the Bunday Room to enjoy music, see a presentation, play games, or make something. If I am not sure, I can ask a staff person if I am allowed to go in.
    I can look at the library’s online calendar to find out what is happening in the library today.
  19. A cartoon person stands and waves. She wears headphones and a butterfly hovers nearby.
    Where to next?

    I can go to the next page if I want to visit the Children’s Area.

    I can skip to page 31 if I want to go upstairs.
  20. The colorful children's area of a library with bookshelves and benches in the middle of the room.
    This is the children’s area. Colorful decorations sometimes hang from the ceiling. They change often, so they may be different next time I come to the library.
  21. A group of people sitting on bean bags in a library.
    There are places to read in the children’s area. Sometimes the children’s area is noisy and busy. Other times, it is calm and quiet.
  22. A child and an adult are looking at picture books in a library. Bright lights are overhead. An illustrated figure of a person wearing headphones stands near a TV screen and colorful chairs in the background.
    I can browse for books in the children’s area.
  23. An adult and a child play in the dramatic play area. A sign above reads 'camp imagine.'
    I can play in the dramatic play area. There are toys and props that fit the theme, and they may be different every time I come to the library. It might be noisy in this area. There is an emergency exit door behind the dramatic play area.

    I shouldn’t use it unless it is necessary to leave the building for safety.
  24. A person is standing in front of a desk in the children's area. Two staff members sit behind the desk.
    I can go to the children’s desk to ask questions. They are always happy to help me. Library staff take turns working here so I might see a different person every day.
  25. A cartoon person with headphones gestures broadly with open arms. A butterfly hovers near her head. Her shirt reads 'be kind'.
    Where to next?

    I can keep reading to check out books and pick up books I have requested.

    I can skip to page 31 if I want to go upstairs.
  26. two books are stacked on a small white table.
    I can look at books in the library. I can leave them on a table or a cart when I am done and staff will put them away for me.
    I don’t put books back on the shelf.
  27. a hand holding a book and a library card. There is a cartoon smiling person wearing headphones riding a butterfly hovering near the library card.
    When I have a library card, I am allowed to borrow most of what I find at the library. I bring back what I borrow when it is due. I can ask for more time if I need it.
  28. a person pushing a purple cart, standing in a doorway flanked by bookshelves.
    I might see and hear library staff going in and out of this door. I don’t go in here because it is a library staff workspace.
  29. A person with his back turned to the camera browses books near a full bookshelf.
    Sometimes a book is not available at the library, so I can request it from another library and have it delivered. When my books arrive, they are placed on these shelves.
  30. a person standing in front of a self-checkout terminal in a library. A cartoon arm with a band-aid points to a self-checkout machine.
    This is the self-checkout counter. I can use a self-checkout computer if I have my library card, or if I know my library card number. If I need help, I can ask a library staff member.
  31. people sitting in chairs in a library atrium. One person browses new books.
    This is the library atrium. Lots of people pass through the atrium to get to other parts of the library. Many people use the atrium to relax and read quietly. New books for adults are in the atrium.
  32. a person pushing a cart out of an elevator next to bookshelves.
    The elevator is next to the children’s help desk. I can use the elevator to go upstairs. There might be a library staff member using the elevator and pushing a noisy metal cart.
  33. a stairway leads up to the second floor of the library. A cartoon person wearing headphones gestures towards the stairs.
    I can use the stairs to go to the second floor.
    I can find books and other items for teens and adults.
  34. A smiling person sitting at a desk in front of a computer.
    I can go to the reference desk to ask for help on the second floor. There is usually a library staff member sitting here. It may be a different person every time I come to visit the library.
  35. Two people use computers in the library.
    I can use a computer at the library. I can log in with my library card number, or I can ask a library staff member for help. I can ask for a guest pass if I need one. Many people wear headphones when they use the computers. I use my inside voice when I am here.
  36. A person sits and reads in a room full of books. There is a table and chairs in front of windows.
    I can browse fiction and nonfiction books, DVDs, music on CD and records, audiobooks on CD, young adult books, and graphic novels on the second floor. The second floor is usually a quiet place so I use my inside voice.
  37. People sit around a table while one stands and gestures. There are bookshelves on either side of a large window.
    I can go into the Mystery Room. It is usually a quiet space, but sometimes classes are taught at the big table. I can ask a staff person for help finding a quiet space if I need one.
  38. a library with books on the shelves and a wayfinding sign on the wall that reads 'nonfiction' and lists call numbers. A cartoon arm with a band-aid points to a sign.
    There are signs to help me find the books I am looking for.
  39. A person in a floral shirt with short pink hair uses a computer to search for books.
    I can search for items on this computer too. If the library does not have what I am looking for, I can request it on this computer.
  40. A person sits in front of windows, near a large, colorful sculpture of a catrina. There are plants, bins of records and a keyboard in the background.
    This is the music area. It is also called the mezzanine. I can browse and listen to records here. I can play the piano. I use headphones when I play music.
    There are plants, art, magazines, and comfortable chairs here.
  41. Children sit on a purple couch and play a video game with their backs to the camera. Bookshelves line the wall to their left.
    The Teen Space is next to the stairs on the second floor. I can browse the manga and graphic novels in there. I can use it to read and play video games if I am a teenager. If I need help or have a question about the Teen Space, I can talk to a library staff member.
  42. Someone is standing in front of an open elevator with a cart of books. A cartoon person wearing headphones rides a butterfly near the elevator.
    I can take the elevator to go downstairs. I know where the elevator is when I can see the orange walls.
  43. a group of 21 library workers standing on steps and smiling at the camera. A cartoon person is riding a butterfly across a dotted line that spans the bottom of the image.
    Everyone who works at the library is there to help me. They are always happy when I visit the library.
  44. Two Images. In one, a cartoon person wears headphones and carries a stack of 3 books. A butterfly hovers near her head. She is smiling. In the other, A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair wears headphones and a pink shirt. She is smiling.
    Who is Tonya Yarmakov?

    Tonya (pronounced TONE-ya) Yarmakov (2001–2024) was born in Minneapolis, but lived in Dundas from the time she was three and attended Northfield Public Schools. She commented often on how much she liked living in this area. Tonya especially loved the Northfield Public Library. It was like a second home for her. She could never leave without a pile of books. And she always went to a library staff member to check out her books because she loved to chat with them. Tonya prided herself on being a social butterfly and a chatterbox despite her Autism, and she loved languages in general. She was bilingual Russian as her first language, but she also learned words in Chinese, French, and Spanish.

    When she was fourteen, Tonya had an article published in New Moon Girls magazine, a particularly proud moment for Tonya and her family. In addition to her Autism, she also had Type 1 diabetes. These two diagnoses created daily, relentless challenges, but some people said that Tonya had the sunshine gene. People were always commenting on her infectious joy, her beautiful smile, her energy, her spunkiness and her just overall exuberance in her everyday life. Although she left us on September 4, 2024, Tonya’s light will always shine on.

    Visit www.facebook.com/findtonyanow to learn more.
  45. A smiling person with hair pulled back looks into the camera. He wears a pink shirt.
    Thank you to the generous donors who supported this project in Tonya’s memory.

    What is a social story? First developed by Carol Gray, a social story is a social learning tool that uses descriptive and directive language with visual aids (like pictures) to help individuals, particularly those with autism or other developmental differences, understand expected behaviors and navigate social interactions more effectively.

    Who made this social story? We are grateful for the efforts of everyone who contributed to creating this social story. Pat O’Laughlin took many of the photos, and Hannah Kotek and Ben Ellis, library interns, worked together to draft the story. Amy Nelson and Natalie Draper also contributed. Illustrations were created by Rocky Casillas.

    About the artist

    Rocky Casillas Aguirre is a Mexican artist based in Minnesota. He is the Founder of Rokaturas, a local arts studio dedicated to creating accessible mental health resources for kids and teens. Through his children's books, comics and animations, Rocky engages thousands of young people across the Midwest and online - encouraging them to befriend their feelings and live authentically.