WILLITON library is among five in Somerset to be equipped with DVDs and books about autism.
An estimated 5,400 people in Somerset are living with autism and the material has been developed to provide people with high quality information and to raise awareness and understanding of autism.
All titles can be reserved free of charge at any Somerset library or at www.librarieswest.org.uk.
The range of books and DVDs includes fiction, autobiographies, informative titles for parents and carers, and children’s books.
The aim is to provide a dedicated information resource for people with autism and their carers and families following a diagnosis, as well as professionals working with individuals living with autism.
They will also provide a resource to the general public who wish to find out more about autism.
Cllr Anna Groskop, Somerset County Council cabinet member with responsibility for health, said: “I am delighted to help launch these new autism collections in Somerset libraries.
“We know that easy access to good quality information plays an important part in people having a better understanding and awareness of the condition.
“The collections have been designed with everyone in mind. They include information about autism, advice about how to live with it on a daily basis, fictional titles, books for children and young people and biographies from people who share their personal experiences of living with autism.”
Somerset Autism Collections has been funded through the Department of Health.
Somerset County Council has involved a range of organisations, including Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group and others which represent people with autism and their carers and families, in developing the collections.
For more information about the books in the collections, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/autismcollection.