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We work closely with organisations for disabled people and
specific user groups to ensure our services are accessible to
all.
People with a physical disability
Improvements have been made to many of our buildings to give
better
access for disabled people, and more are being planned.
People who are deaf or hearing impaired
Many libraries now stock videos and DVDs which carry subtitles
(closed captions). The videos require the use of a decoder which,
connected between the TV and video recorder, will reveal the
subtitles normally hidden on the video cassette.
Induction loops are fitted in a number of libraries and archives
centres to help hearing-aid users. Most are provided at enquiry
desks, but some library galleries also provide a looped room.
Text phones are available in six libraries - Canterbury,
Folkestone, Gravesend, Maidstone, Sheerness, Tunbridge Wells - and
at Access Services.
Collections
of books and videos for adults and children about deafness and
hearing loss are available at the Maidstone and Canterbury Hi
Centres, where they can be used or borrowed.
People who are visually impaired
Large print books are available in all static and mobile
libraries. Many also have spoken word cassettes and the loan
charged is waived for blind and partially sighted people.
A free
postal service of spoken word cassettes and CDs, is available
to blind and partially sighted adults and young people. Applicants
will be accepted on receipt of a recommendation from the Kent
Association for the Blind (KAB) or a letter from a doctor or
ophthalmologist. You may borrow up to 4 books at a time for 2
months.
Basic information about
joining a Kent library is available at all
libraries in large print and Braille. Other Libraries &
Archives information can be made available in large print, audio
tape, Braille and computer disc on request.
Print magnification machines (Eezee Readers and TV Readers) are
available in a number of
service points,
and speech to text reading machines can be found in Ashford, Deal
and Tunbridge Wells libraries.
For more details call Open Access on 01622 605243 or email
openaccess@kent.gov.uk
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