ITHACA, N.Y. (WENY) -- A library in Ithaca has fully reopened and is putting the pandemic in its rear-view mirror. The Racker Autism Lending Library is a place for kids, teens, and adults who want to read -- and then some.

"With this library they can borrow things and they can try them out. They don’t have to spend their own money on them," said Gayle Pado, director of community support services at Racker in Ithaca.

As the pandemic restrictions are being lifted, members of the Lending Library decided now was the time to open up again, for various reasons.

"We recognized there was a gap in our community. A lot of families need solutions and different ways to support their loved ones. And the library does just that," said Pado.

While the Lending Library is geared toward kids with special needs -- it's truly for anyone.

"It’s also a place for parents to come and network and to meet other parents that are experiencing what they’re experiencing when they raise a child with a different disability. The (Autism Lending) Library is for people of all ages from the age of three to 83," said Pado.

People with appointments can visit the Autism Lending Library to play with sensory-friendly items and toys and even rent them.

"We have thousands of other items. We have things like compression pods, body socks, sensory items, weighted vests, a little bit of everything," said Lyndsey Paulin, family support services team leader at Racker.

At the Autism Lending Library, there are cupboards filled with different items. Each one is broken up by specific items like preschool games, sensory items, and games for older kids/adults.

Members of the Lending Library are looking forward to planning fun events like DIY sensory items, and a sensory movie night.