Sensory Lending Library
About the Lending Library
What are Sensory Items?
Sensory items are designed to help people engage their senses (hearing, sight, smell, touch) in a controlled manner. Some of these items may be sensory-seeking, which provides a particular sensory experience that some may find soothing – examples include a uniquely-textured handheld fidget, weighed blanket, or white noise machine. Other items might be sensory-soothing, which blocks out or dampens unwanted or potentially overwhelming stimuli from the environment. Noise-cancelling headphones, and lightshades fall under this category.
Lending Library Open Hours
Main Location (CCC 222D)
As of October 27, the Library no longer has open hours.
All items listed as being available in CCC 222D may be browsed and picked up at our NeurodiversiTea Social every Thursday between 12:00 – 1:30pm, in the CCC 2nd Floor Atrium.
Alternately, these items may be picked up by scheduling a time to visit CCC 222D by emailing neurodiversity@cornell.edu. We encourage you to schedule visits at least 2 days ahead of time.
How do I Use the Lending Library?
1. Find any item(s) that you’re interested in the catalog below.
2. Under each item, you will find a list of location(s) where these items are available for pickup., along with the number of that item available at each location.
3. If an item is available for pickup at a Cornell Library (e.g. Mann Library, Uris/Olin Library, etc.), you may go to that location and physically request the item at the circulation desk. These items are fully subject to the Cornell Library System’s policies, including due dates, renewals, and penalties for overdue or damaged items.
4. Some items are listed as permanent items. You do not need to return them – they are yours to keep!
Catalog of Items
Quiet & Noise Blocking
Sometimes we just need to tune out. These items are great for navigating loud environments and preventing sensory overload – or if you just want to chill for a hot second.
Sony WH1000-XM4 Headphones
Where to Borrow:
– (2x) Mathematics Library (Mallott Hall)
– (1x) Music Library (Lincoln Hall)
Borrowing Period: 30 days
Bluetooth headphones with active noise canceling. 23 dB SNR.
Black Passive Noise-Blocking Earmuffs
Where to Borrow:
– (2x) Mui Ho Fine Arts Library
– (2x) Catherwood Library (ILR School)
– (3x) Mann Library
– (2x) Music Library (Lincoln Hall)
Borrowing Period: 30 days
35 dB SNR. If you’d like to block out noise without needing Bluetooth or headphone features, these earmuffs might be for you!
Reusable Silicone Earplugs
Where to Borrow: CCC 222D
Borrowing Period: Permanent
These earplugs come with a strap to reduce the risk of loss, and can be cleaned and reused multiple times.
Loop Quiet Earplugs
Where to Borrow: CCC 222D
Borrowing Period: Permanent
24 dB SNR. These high-quality, reusable earplugs are intended to be more durable, comfortable to wear, and effective than traditional earplugs.
Note: Due to the high quality of this product, we encourage you to consider getting the Loop Quiet only if other products have not worked for you, and/or you do not have easy access to these or similar products.
Executive Function
Homework, research, housekeeping, projects … oh my! Staying on top of day-to-day tasks may get challenging and overwhelming – if that sounds like you, we get it!
60-Min Visual Timer
Where to Borrow:
– (2x) Mui Ho Fine Arts Library (Milstein Hall)
– (2x) Catherwood Library (ILR)
– (2x) Law Library (Myron Taylor Hall)
– (2x) Mann Library
– (1x) Music Library (Lincoln Hall)
– (4x) Vet School Library
Borrowing Period: 30 days
Visual timers allow you to pace yourself or set time limits for certain tasks (without using your phone!). A clearly-visible face that shows you how much time you have left makes it much easier to see.
20-min Visual Timer
Where to Borrow:
– (1x) Music Library (Lincoln Hall)
– (1x) Catherwood Library (ILR)
– (1x) Law Library (Myron Taylor Hall)
Borrowing Period: 30 days
Visual timers allow you to pace yourself or set time limits for certain tasks (without using your phone!). A clearly-visible face that shows you how much time you have left makes it much easier to see.
Time Timer Whiteboard & Visual Timer Combo
Where to Borrow:
– (1x) Mann Library
Borrowing Period: 30 days
60 min. Dimensions: 10″ x 10″ x 3″
Want to keep all of your information in one place? This visual timer comes with an attached whiteboard for you to keep useful notes (or anything else you want!) on it.
Dry-Erase To-Do List
Where to Borrow: Mann Library
Borrowing Period: 30 days
Sometimes, it’s good to just have your to-do list right there in the room with you (especially if you’re not feeling like wrestling with another smartphone app at the moment). This item is dry-erase so you can reuse it over and over! Comes with a hook for wall hanging and/or magnetic strips for placing on a metal surface.
Keychain To-Do List
Where to Borrow: CCC 222D
Borrowing Period: 30 days
This physical, customizable to-do-list can travel with you as an accessory you can attach to your key ring. First-time borrowers of this item will be given an included set of paper cards for writing tasks on.
ADHD Planner
Where to Borrow: CCC 222D
Borrowing Period: Permanent
For those of us who prefer to put things on paper (me included), we’ve got the classic planner for you!
The Anti-Planner by Dani Donovan
Where to Borrow: CCC 222D
Borrowing Period: 30 days only, not renewable
Part activity book, part planner, part practical guide. 100% useful tool for getting stuff done.
NOTE: While borrowing this item, please do not write on the pages so others can use it after you – we recommend you use sticky notes instead.
Sensory
Whether you’re seeking to engage your senses in a controlled way, or feel calm and soothing, we’ve got items for you!
Cottonblue Lap-Sized Weighed Blanket
Where to Borrow:
– (1x) Mui Ho Fine Arts Library (Milstein Hall)
– (2x) Catherwood Library (ILR)
– (1x) Vet School Library
Borrowing Period: 30 days
7 lb. Dimensions: 29″ x 34″.
Weighed Blanket
Where to Borrow:
– (2x) Vet School Library
Borrowing Period: 30 days
These large, person-sized weighed blankets are offered in three weights: 12 lb, 15 lb, and 20 lb. Dimensions: 48″ x 72″.
Light & Sound Machine
Where to Borrow:
– (1x) Mui Ho Fine Arts Library (Milstein Hall)
– (1x) Catherwood Library (ILR)
– (1x) Law Library (Myron Taylor Hall)
– (2x) Mann Library
Borrowing Period: 30 days
If you’re looking for a calming auditory experience, this device lets you play several sounds, including rain, bird, ocean, and white noise. A relaxing, gentle light show can also be toggled to enhance the experience. This device is Bluetooth-capable.
Light Shade
Where to Borrow:
– (2x) Mui Ho Fine Arts Library (Milstein Hall)
– (3x) Catherwood Library (ILR)
– (3x) Mann Library
Borrowing Period: 30 days
If you’re overstimulated by intense lights and are unable to remove or replace them, putting a light shade over it may help. Comes in 3 patterns, with built-in magnetic fasteners. Dimensions: 48″ x 24″.
Fidgets
Fidgets
Where to Borrow: CCC 222D
Borrowing Period: Permanent
We have dozens of different types of fidgets in stock, a few of which are shown in the photo here. Upon visiting the Lending Library, a staff member will allow you to browse our full selection of fidgets. While you are free to take as many as you’d like, please be considerate of other people’s need for these fidgets as well.
Neurodiversity-Related Books
If you’re interested in learning more about neurodiversity, or would like to look for advice, guidance, and recommendations for life, we offer a small collection of informative and self-help books for your reference.
All books are available for pickup at CCC 222D. Books may be borrowed for 30 days – to renew or return, please bring the book back to CCC 222D, on or immediately before the due date, during the Lending Library’s open hours.
List of Available Books
| Author | Title | Date Published | ISBN |
| Saundra Yancy McGuire | Teach Yourself How to Learn: Strategies You Can Use to Ace Any Course at Any Level | 2018 | 978-1-62036-756-8 |
| Daniel Lerner & Alan Schlechter | U Thrive: How to Succeed in College and Life | 2017 | 978-0-316-31161-8 |
| Mark Bertin, MD, & Karen Bluth, PhD | Mindfulness & Self-Compassion for Teen ADHD | 2021 | 9781684036394 |
| John Elder Robison | Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger’s | 2007 | ~ |
| Daniel Tammet | Born On a Blue Day | 2006 | 978-1-4165-4901-7 |
| Naoki Higashida (translated by: KA Yoshida, David Mitchell) | The Reason I Jump | 2016 | 978-0-8129-8515-3 |
| Sonny Jane Wise | We’re All Neurodiverse | 2024 | 978-1-83997-578-3 |
| Paul Collins | Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism | 2004 | 1-58234-367-5 |
| Roy Richard Grinker | Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism | 2007 | 978-0-465-02763-7 |
| Steve Silberman | NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity | 2015 | 978-1-58333-467-6 |
| Eric Garcia | We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation | 2021 | 9781328587848 |
| Megan Anna Neff | Self-Care for Autistic People | 2024 | 978-1-5072-2193-8 |
| Emma Goodall | The Autism Spectrum Guide to Sexuality and Relationships | 2016 | 978-1-84905-705-9 |
| CJ DeBarra | NeuroQueer: A Neurodivergent Guide to Love, Sex, and Everything in Between | 2023 | 978-1-911227-23-6 |
| Nick Walker | Neuroqueer Heresies: Notes on the Neurodiversity Paradigm, Autistic Empowerment, and Postnormal Possibilities | 2021 | 978-1-945955-26-6 |
| Joe Biel, & Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN | The Autism Relationships Handbook: How to Thrive in Friendships, Dating, and Love | 2021 | 978-1-62106-6194 |
| Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) | Loud Hands: Autistic People, Speaking | 2012 | 9781938800023 |
| Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) | Navigating College: A Handbook on Self Advocacy | 2013 | 978-1-938800-009 |