by Anastasia Tuckness

We have a new set of tools for anyone to use while at the Library! These tools offer options for anyone who needs a little help regulating their sensory input while they visit the Library, no matter their age. 

Noise-reducing headphones make the Library a little less overwhelming, especially when using the play area or at story time programs. When I put them on, I can feel my body relax immediately; auditory chaos around me becomes just a little more manageable. Similarly, we have weighted lap pads, which can calm and soothe someone feeling anxious. Sometimes people need a little extra sensory stimulus, or something to focus on—for those times, our sensory kit offers a variety of fidgets and a busy book.

Sensory Kit items are available at the Youth Services Desk and the Adult Services Desk, with some items also available at the Welcome Desk. These Sensory Kits are a Novel Idea--a new, innovative project suggested by a staff member (me, this time!) and funded by the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation. We want people of all ages and abilities to be successful at using the Library, and this is just one of the Novel Ideas that works toward that goal.

Who might benefit from these tools? A wide range of people! Conditions such as Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder often include patterns of needing sensory regulation. More recently we’ve been hearing about Highly Sensitive People and Neurodiverse People. These conditions overlap in some ways, but are distinct, and vary in intensity. For me personally, incorporating some of these sensory tools and concepts has helped me function better in chaotic environments and has helped me understand friends and family better. 

Want to learn more? Type in “sensory processing” or “highly sensitive” into the search bar on the Library catalog to find books with thoughtful tips on everything from thriving as a highly sensitive adult to working with a child whose sensory processing issues make the world overwhelming. I started with “Helping Your Child with Sensory Regulation : Skills to Manage the Emotional and Behavioral Components of Your Child’s Sensory Processing Challenges” by Suzanne Mouton-Odum, which can be found in our Parenting Collection, a set of resources that offers tested research and practical strategies for all types of caregiver challenges. For adults, I like “Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World” by Jenn Granneman. 

Check them out next time you visit Ames Public Library!