Accessibility: Seniors at the Library

Burlington Library | Milton Library | Oakville Library

Special Services at Your Burlington Public Library

At Burlington Public Library we believe that books play an important role in enriching our daily lives; they inform us and they entertain us. We are continually striving to make our resources accessible to our customers.

Talking Book Collection:

What are Talking Books? The Talking Book collection provides recreational reading for people whose physical or visual disability severely limits their use of standard printed materials. Talking books are unabridged books recorded on cassette tapes. The tapes are numbered in Braille and a regular tape player is all that is needed to listen.

How to register for the Talking Book Service

Please visit the Tansley Woods Library, or call 905.336.5583.

Large Print Books:

Large-print books are available at all Burlington Public Library locations through a rotating branch collection, a large base collection at Central Library, as well as a special collection designated for the Home Readers' Service to senior's and retirement residences throughout Burlington.

These books feature novels of romance, mystery, adventure, westerns, historical fiction and family sagas as well as non-fiction titles including biographies. Large-print editions of Reader's Digest are also available for borrowing.

Special Reading Aids:

The Burlington Public Library system has three special reading aids that will help make reading print and computer screens easier for people with low vision.

ZoomText is computer software that magnifies the computer screen. It is designed for readers who prefer large print. Selected computer terminals at every Burlington Public Library location are loaded with this special software.

VERA (Very Easy Reading Appliance) is a machine able to read books, magazines and other print materials. Seniors, in particular, like the machine because it is simple to use and reads in a crisp, clear voice. This product is also beneficial to any person with a learning disability who must hear information in order to process it. VERA is available at Central Library.

The Optelec Clearview CCTV is a black and white video magnifier. It features a smooth-riding table, large enough to accommodate a large book or magazine. The 'Clearview' is housed at Central Library, Aldershot, New Appleby, Tyandaga and Tansley Woods Branches.

Special Services At Your Milton Public Library:

Homebound Services:

The library has a special service for its homebound patrons. To register you only need to fill out a special form. This tells the librarian your favourite authors, genres and subjects as well as what formats you would like - large print, regular print, audiobook, etc., how many books you would like, and how often. Based on this information, we will select and check out your books for you. You must make your own arrangements for pick up and delivery but we will have your material waiting for your caregiver or volunteer to pick up and deliver to you.

As part of your outreach program we also have a rotating deposit in the Special Care Unit at the Milton District Hospital.

Resources for the Deaf:

To better serve our deaf community we have collected a variety of materials dealing with deafness. Books on raising a deaf child, on Bell, Gallaudet, Helen Keller and other related subjects are available. The Gallaudet Encyclopedia of Deaf People and Deafness is a useful basic resource. We also have a wide variety of books, videos and DVD’s on sign language. Over 2585 items in our video and DVD collection are closed captioned. There is a TTY phone 905-878-1550 on the public floor for deaf patrons to use to call each other or to call the library for information or with reference questions.

Resources for the Visually Impaired:

For the visually impaired we have books in large print and audio books. We will also help you contact the CNIB for access to their Talking Book library.

Ask the Information Desk in you are looking for something in particular. If we don’t have it, we’ll try to get it from another library.

Special Services At Your Oakville Public Library:

Shut-in Service:

Home delivery of library materials to those patrons who are confined to their home or residence due to illness or disability. Upon registering with the service a special profile of reading preferences is created. Library staff uses this profile to select suitable materials for delivery. Volunteers pick up and deliver either every two weeks or once a month.

Talking Book Service:

A patron profile of reading preferences (likes and dislikes) is created at registration. Library staff uses this information to select talking books for visually impaired patrons. Registration for this service is restricted to persons who are print disabled due to:

Visual impairment
Physical handicap
Perceptual problem
Learning disability

Outreach Service:

For the convenience of the frail elderly, small rotating collections of large print books are housed at seniors' residences, nursing homes and seniors' day program centres in Oakville. To register for these services, please call or visit Woodside Branch Library, 905-815-2036.

Special Reading Aids:

CCTV - a magnifier which enhances all reading materials (example, magazines, newspapers, photographs, bills). It is available at Woodside Branch Library. Donated by the Friends of the Library and the Ulverscroft Foundation.

ZOOMTEXT - screen magnification software that allows patrons to view the library catalog and the internet in large print. Each of the Oakville Public Library locations has a ZoomText workstation.

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