Designing Beyond Silence: ADHD Experiences in Libraries

Where silence is designed for focus, but not experienced the same by all.

Understanding ADHD and Sensory Experience

Libraries are usually silent, structured spaces where silence is the expected behaviour for all users. This is because being silent is considered to help with improving concentration. However, not all users experience these spaces the same way. This article looks at how library design, especially silence, affects users with ADHD, particularly those with auditory sensitivity.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. Due to this, individuals with ADHD may experience shared environments differently.

The main features of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can influence how they respond to structured settings.

Predominantly inattentive is when a person struggles with sustained focus, which can affect long sessions in a library setting. Predominantly hyperactive and impulsive is when a person feels restless or needs movement, which may make highly silent and still environments challenging. Combined is a mix of both traits that can influence how a user navigates structured, quiet spaces. These symptoms can affect daily functioning.

People with ADHD often find it hard to ignore background noises, as their brains react strongly even to small sounds. Because of this, their attention can easily change when they hear sounds around them. In places where there are many things happening at once, they may feel overwhelmed by different stimuli. On the other hand, quiet places can make them more aware of their thoughts and feelings, which can be distracting too. This creates a conflict for them, as they try to focus on what they need to do while also reacting to the noises and activities happening around them.

ADHD is associated with sensory processing differences (a cause of ADHD’s symptoms). Auditory sensitivity can make small sounds feel amplified. In complete silence, minor sounds (page turning, chairs, footsteps) may feel intrusive.

Auditory sensitivity, or how sensitive someone is to sounds, can be different for each person with ADHD. This sensitivity can affect how well they can concentrate and complete tasks.

Types of Libraries

Different types of libraries serve varied purposes and users.

Public libraries, which are funded by local or state authorities and accessible to everyone, offer books, media resources, and community-oriented initiatives like workshops and book clubs. Academic libraries, which are affiliated with universities and colleges, offer access to specialized resources like research journals and academic databases, primarily for students and staff members.

School libraries are designed for K-12 students and function as learning spaces that support education. Special libraries are linked to particular organisations, including hospitals, corporations, or government entities, and provide highly specialised collections. National libraries are maintained by governments and preserve the cultural, historical, and archival resources of a country. Besides physical libraries, there are digital or virtual libraries available online. These allow users to access resources remotely, minimizing the need to visit a physical location.

Library Culture

Libraries generally follow a fixed rule and idea of focus, which are silence, stillness, and minimal movement. This idea has been carried forward from traditional reading spaces, where silence was seen as a necessary condition for studying and intellectual work. Even today, many libraries follow this idea by implementing silent zones, signage, and controlled seating environments.

Three types of spaces: Collaborative zones were defined as spaces where people work in groups using normal speaking voices, and could use headphones with their mobile devices and computers. Quiet zones were defined as spaces in which infrequent, quiet discussions are allowed, cell phone conversations are not permitted, and users should set their cell phones to vibrate. Silent zones were defined as strictly silent spaces, with no conversations permitted, and all devices should be silenced and used with headphones.

The “zoning” system balances the need for quiet with collaborative learning.

People often feel pressure to follow quiet rules in certain places. This means they might be scared to make noise or disrupt others around them. Signs like “silent zone” remind people to be quiet and help create a calm atmosphere.

There are also rules about how to act in these spaces, such as sitting still and maintaining posture. This kind of control over behavior can make everyone act in a certain way. Silence is often seen as a sign of discipline and productivity, as well as a socially expected behaviour. These factors show how silence is not only a design feature but also a behavioural expectation imposed on users.

However, this rule may not suit everyone because ADHD users may interact differently. This shows that neurodivergent users are rarely considered in spatial design, and all ADHD experiences are varied and differ from person to person.

Impact of Different Libraries

As mentioned above, there are many types of libraries.

In the context of how they impact individuals with auditory sensitivity, public libraries are generally more dynamic and variable in nature due to their nature as community hubs. These community hubs consist of children’s sections, media areas, and social meeting spaces altogether, and so they lack designated silent zones. This causes discomfort and sensory overload.

Academic and Research Libraries have stricter noise policies and offer designated silent zones. However, the learning commons area in these libraries can still become noisy due to group work.

Special Libraries typically have the quietest, controlled environments and spaces, which results in the lowest risk of sensory overload.

National libraries normally have controlled environments that either cause sensory overload or don’t. Normally, the management of noise levels ensures that there is little to no auditory discomfort for individuals with auditory sensitivity.

Design Issues

Libraries usually follow a certain type of design across the world. However, this appears to be an issue because of overloaded layouts with minimal partitions, along with bright light and constant background noise. Even unlabeled spaces and zones can confuse.

Open layouts cause visual and mental overload, and a lack of partitions increases distractions. These layout conditions can make it difficult for users to identify focused areas and reduce clarity within the space.

Bright lighting increases sensory stimulation, and uneven lighting across different areas can contribute to sensory overload when combined with other environmental factors.

There is an unclear division between silent and active areas and a lack of labelled zones, creating confusion regarding expected behaviour and making navigation more difficult.

In extremely quiet settings, even subtle movements like footsteps, page turning, or furniture shifting can become amplified and harder to ignore, leading to distraction. This is because ADHD users may struggle more with adapting to regular stimuli, and sudden noises can cause disturbance. Silence does not always create a relaxing environment; instead, it can increase sensitivity and reduce focus. However, due to varied experiences, silence may also be beneficial for some users.

These problems can lead to processing discomfort, anxiety, and difficulties in navigating the space. For example, a user with ADHD may struggle to decide where to sit and get distracted before starting.

Existing Solutions

Some solutions have already been applied, such as silent zones, study zones, and reading pods. Silent zones aim to reduce distractions but increase pressure. Study zones create more flexible environments, but are still limited. Reading pods provide semi-privacy for users who want limited external noise but reduce interaction.

However, these solutions mostly focus on general needs and do not consider diverse users. Due to this, such users are made to adapt to these environments. Usage of earphones has already been utilized as a strategy, allowing users to control distractions and noise. This shows that users often adjust themselves rather than the design adapting to them.

Spatial elements and furniture can also significantly assist users with ADHD. Users can select spaces that suit their comfort and focus requirements thanks to flexible seating options like individual desks, semi-enclosed pods, and adjustable seating. Movable dividers or soft partitions can minimize visual and auditory distractions while not completely isolating the user. Sound-absorbing materials like fabric panels or acoustic surfaces can help lower noise levels in the area.

User Experience

Users may feel overwhelmed on entering the space and find it difficult to settle into a task. Silence can increase awareness of small movements and sounds. These experiences highlight how users may struggle internally even when the environment appears calm and controlled.

Silence is not necessarily positive or negative, but it can impact users differently. Some may prefer silence, while others may not, such as ADHD users. This shows a lack of flexibility in design, indicating the need for spaces where users feel included.

Libraries feature separate booths that are enclosed with transparent glass to ensure soundproofing. Individuals utilize them for making calls or even performing tasks in a quieter environment. These booths form a semi-isolated setting that lessens external noise while maintaining visual contact with the environment. Such spaces can help in managing distractions and enhancing concentration for users who have auditory sensitivity. However, total isolation may not be effective for all users, as some might still perceive restrictions or discomfort in enclosed environments.

There are spaces that are designed specifically to cater to individuals with attention or sensory-related needs. These may consist of quiet rooms, low-stimulation areas, or wellness spaces designed to minimize sensory input through regulated lighting, reduced noise, and limited visual distractions.

Library Environments and Spatial Behaviour

Libraries followed fixed seating arrangements with specific zones and pods. Movement among users was minimal, and silence was expected. Some areas were brightly lit, while others were minimally lit.

Users adapted to their surroundings using strategies such as choosing isolated areas and using earphones, showing that users adapt to the environment. They preferred isolated seating and avoided crowded areas, with minimal movement and controlled behaviour.

Lighting variation affected comfort, and users chose either well-lit or dim areas based on preference.

User Responses and Spatial Adaptation

Field observation in library spaces involved studying seating arrangements, lighting conditions, and user movement to understand how spatial design influences behaviour. An informal interview was conducted with an ADHD user to gain insights into personal experience, along with visual documentation in the form of photographs.

A short survey was conducted to understand user experiences in library environments, particularly in relation to silence, sound, and spatial comfort. Due to limited participation, the responses are considered indicative rather than conclusive.

Most participants reported occasional use of libraries or study spaces, with experiences ranging from comfortable to slightly uncomfortable. This suggests that libraries are not experienced the same by all users.

When asked about the effect of silence on their focus, responses varied. Some participants said it helped them more, whereas the majority indicated that it depended on the situation. This shows that silence may not always be equally effective for users.

In terms of auditory sensitivity, small sounds like footsteps, page turning, etc, did feel somewhat distracting in quiet spaces for many of them. Also, the majority of the participants stated that they feel more aware of their surroundings in silent spaces, indicating increased sensory awareness.

Environmental factors such as noise, movement of people were found to be the most significant sources of distraction, whereas crowded spaces and bright lighting affected the users to quite an extent as well. A large proportion of the participants also reported experiencing sensory overload in these environments sometimes.

To focus better in such spaces, most participants reported using earphones and listening to music or selecting isolated seating as strategies. The isolated seating comes from the type of seating they prefer.

Navigation in library spaces was also identified as a struggle as they tried to find a place to sit. Suggestions for improvement included flexible seating arrangements like individual seats, small enclosed spaces, and slightly secluded areas to avoid background noise.

These answers clearly point to the varying needs of people, supporting the argument that a single, fixed design may not suit all kinds of users, especially those with auditory sensitivity.

Conclusion

Library design influences comfort, focus, and a sense of inclusion. One fixed environment may not support diverse cognitive needs.

This highlights the need for more flexible and inclusive design approaches in library spaces.

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