«Stories to feel»: an inclusive activity for shared reading

The article begins by presenting the focus of the Library Lab, a specialist centre for cultural mediation run by the foundation Bibliomedia Switzerland. Inclusion, barrier-free access to text-based resources and a respectful approach to user diversity are at the heart of the Lab’s work, with the aim of supporting libraries in serving diverse audiences. A brief reflection on reading habits and access to reading follows this contextualisation.
The main part of the article focuses on the particular needs of the visually impaired. It describes a project to promote reading called ‘Stories to touch’, which is aimed at young visually impaired audiences, and summarises experiences from three pilot events held in March 2025. These observations illustrate what is meant by sensory mediation. 
Finally, the article outlines the challenges of projects of this nature, the importance of collaborative initiatives, and the potential the project has in promoting inclusion and raising awareness; the ultimate goal being to foster exchange between very different target groups in direct connection with libraries.