Library News
Accessibility and the Library
(04/01/2008) -
Accessibility and the Library
Making information readily available to all patrons has always been one of the library’s most important missions; providing materials and information to everyone equally is one of the fundamental values within the library profession. Our library has made several recent changes in order to meet with ADA accessibility guidelines, including improvements to our automatic doors and changes in the way shelving is arranged. More improvements are planned, including new lower shelving in the reference area.
One form of adaptive technology that already exists in the library is the JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reader, an assistive computer program installed at a dedicated workstation on the first floor of the library. Provided by the Academic Support Services Center, this specialized software allows users to use headphones in order to have screen text read aloud via the computer’s sound card. Library users who are visually impaired or have reading difficulties can use this technology within most other Windows software applications as well as with the Internet. An audio prompt lets the user know that the software has launched, and any portion of text or the entire screen may be selected to be read aloud. A scanner and printer are also available at the JAWS workstation.
To use the JAWS screen reader, please see any library staff member, or call the reference desk at 792-3044.