The Carrington Autism Resource Center at Averett University's Mary B. Blount Library was established in 2011 through a grant. It provides resources and space for families of those with autism. The center was completed in November 2011 and has since hosted activities and provided services for local schools and families. It aims to collaborate with the community to support those with autism.

1. Mary B. Blount Library
“Seek and Cite Credible Sources”

2. Origins of the Autism Resource Center
• In Summer 2011, Averett University received a generous grant from
the Alexander Berkeley Carrington, Jr. and Ruth Simpson Carrington
Charitable Trust to establish an autism resource center for families in
Southside Virginia.
• From July through November 2011, Blount Library collaborated with
Institutional Advancement, Education faculty, volunteers, and
Facilities to select and prepare a site for the Carrington Autism
Resource Center.
• The Center was complete and the collection, technology and policies
in place prior to the ribbon cutting on November 30, 2011.

3. Library Hours
Fall / Spring Semester (Semester Breaks)
• Sunday, 1:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. (7:00 P.M)
• Monday-Thursday, 8:30 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. (9:00
P.M.)
• Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
• Saturday, 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. (Closed)
• http://discover.averett.edu 24/7!
• Detailed building hours

4. Autism Resource Center Hours
• The Carrington Autism Resource Center is available
for teachers, therapists, and registered families
Monday‐Thursday 9:00 a.m.‐8:00 p.m., Friday 9:00
a.m.‐4:00 p.m., and Sunday, 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Please ask the librarian at the reference desk to open
the Center for you.
• Volunteer teachers are available by appointment
(contact autism@averett.edu).

5. Library Accounts
• Blount Library will create a library account for each
Autism Family on approval of Averett’s Chair of
Education.
• Please send evidence of autism diagnosis to Dr.
Riedel:
• Pamela Riedel, Ph.D.
Frith Hall 428; pamela.riedel@averett.edu
FAX: (434) 791 5020; Voice: (434) 791‐5744

6. Free Access
• Use of the Carrington Autism Resource Center and
circulation of activity and diagnostic kits is free for
registered Autism Families.
• Registration is confidential and intended to ensure that
families will benefit from visiting the Center. Simply
Contact Dr. Pamela Riedel (434‐791‐5744) with evidence
for a diagnosis of autism.
• Use of the Center by teachers, and circulation of materials
to SPED school and organization administrators is also
free of charge.

7. Shared Leadership
• Volunteer Educator, Mrs. Amy Stilley (M.A.T.) visits the Center
as needed for appointments.
• As of June 30, 2012, we had three registered families and had
logged over 40 visits by local educators.
• Ongoing success of the Center will be facilitated by recruiting
a Director of Autism Studies to provide oversight of services
for children and families:
http://jobboard.specialedcareers.org/jobs/4903971.32

8. Autism Center Activities
• Averett invites active collaboration with schools and
organizations supporting autism families in Southside.
• The Center's web guide with educational information, photos,
policies and forms is located at
http://discover.averett.edu/autism.
• In addition to hosting the opening reception, the library
sponsored outreach activities, including a work day for
Danville Public School teachers (March 2012), a presentation
for the DPS Autism Parents' Support Group (May 2012) and
for the DPS SPED Advisory Committee (September 2012).

9. Support the Autism Center
• We also invite community members to support to the
Carrington Autism Resource Center and Mary B.
Blount Library through membership in:
• Autism Friends, or
• Library Friends
• Friends donations enhance autism services for
Southside families and library services for Averett
students.

10. Averett Librarians
• Elaine Day, Director; Science Liaison; eday@averett.edu
• Kevin Harden, Distance Learning; Business, Education,Social
Sciences Liaison; kharden@averett.edu
• Jennifer Robinson, Technical Services; Communication
Studies/Journalism, Children’s Literature Liaison;
jrobinson@averett.edu
• Jim Verdini, Access Services; Humanities, Performing Arts Liaison;
jverdini@averett.edu
• Dr. Patrick Wasley, Archivist; English Literature Literature;
pwasley@averett.edu

11. Questions?
Pamela Riedel, Chair, Education Department
Frith Hall 428; pamela.riedel@averett.edu
FAX: (434) 791 5020; Voice: (434) 791‐5744
Elaine Day, Director, Mary B. Blount Library
elaine.day@averett.edu; 434‐791‐5696