NBPLS is committed to making public library services available to all New Brunswickers including people with print disabilities.
A print disability prevents people from reading standard print due to severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes; the inability to hold or manipulate a book; or an impairment relating to comprehension.
Currently, all NBPLS libraries provide access to alternative format collections (available at the library and through the NBPLS website) and nine libraries located throughout the province provide access to adaptive workstations (available in the library). In addition, NBPLS libraries provide access to restricted alternative format library collections held by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) through the Service québécois du livre adapté (SQLA).
Alternative formats for all users
Playaway
Playaway is a small device similar to an MP3 player, which is preloaded with one audiobook, runs on one AAA battery, and provides navigation features such as fast forward/rewind, advance/rewind one track, adjust playback speed and bookmarks the last place the device was stopped. Like audiobooks on CD, Playaways are created by the publisher and the book is read aloud by a professional narrator, an actor, or the author. To find Playaways in the Vision catalogue, combine “and playaway” with an author, title, or keyword.
Audiobooks on CD
Audiobooks on CD are books read aloud by a professional narrator, an actor, or the author. Audiobooks on CD can be searched in the Vision catalogue by combining an author, title, or keyword and selecting the “audiobooks” radio button. Note: you will also retrieve audiobooks in Playaway format with this search. To eliminate Playaways from your search results, include “not playaway” in your search.
Large print
Large print books are printed in 16 point, or larger font. To find large print books in the Vision catalogue, combine “and large print” with an author, title, or keyword.
Braille and print/braille.
Braille is a system made up of raised dots combined to represent letters, words, and, ultimately, text. Print/braille books combine standard print with braille to make the same text enjoyable by users who read braille and users who read standard print. NBPLS has a small collection of braille and print/braille books. To find braille and print/braille books in the Vision catalogue, combine author, title, or keyword with “braille” or “print/braille.” Users wishing to access larger collections of braille texts are encouraged to register with the CNIB Library or BAnQ (SQLA).
Described video
Described videos are movies with audio descriptions of scenes, actions, and characters. DVD and VHS formats are available and play on a standard player. NBPLS has a small collection. To find a described video in the Vision catalogue, enter “described video”. Additional described videos are available through the CNIB Library to registered users.
Restricted alternative formats
Restricted alternative formats are available to qualifying NBPLS patrons through the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) through the Service québécois du livre adapté (SQLA).
- CNIB: The CNIB Library provides people who are blind, have low vision, or have a print disability with access to English and French resources. Resources provided by CNIB include DAISY CD audiobooks and online resources, such as daily newspapers and current popular magazines. Details on registration requirements and more information on CNIB Library are available from the CNIB Library website: http://www.cnib.ca/en/services/library/Default.aspx or by calling 1-800-268-8818
- BAnQ (SQLA): Service québécois du livre adapté (SQLA) provides people with print disabilities with access to French resources. Audiobooks on tape and CD, braille books, music and multiple media works are available through SQLA. Details on the registration requirements and more information on SQLA are available from the SQLA website: http://www.banq.qc.ca/sqla/index.html?language_id=1 or by calling 1-877-289-3819.
Adaptive Workstations Nine libraries throughout the province have an adaptive workstation available to transform print or text information into an accessible format. The workstations are wheelchair accessible and loaded with the following adaptive software and hardware.
Software: - JAWS—allows the user to interact with the computer through keystrokes and receive audible responses
- OpenBook—Allows users to scan print documents and read or hear them read on the computer
- ZoomText —Magnifies text up to 36 times its original size
- Kurzweil 3000—allows users to highlight words while reading or hearing the text read
Hardware: - A desk top computer with CD burner
- A 26-inch monitor
- Headphones—patrons may bring their own headphones to use with these workstations as well
- A document scanner
- Large Print French keyboard--yellow with black lettering
- Large Print English keyboard--yellow with black lettering
- A roller trackball mouse
CCTV
Closed Circuit Television units are also available in the
nine libraries equiped with adaptive workstations. These allow the user to enlarge print or images by placing them on a tray, which is positioned under a camera. The image displays on the attached 19-inch monitor and can be enlarged up to 60 times its original size.
Anyone may use the adaptive workstation or CCTV unit in one of the participating libraries by presenting their public library card. The adaptive workstation can be reserved for up to one hour. Please contact your library for more information.
E-Resources
Canadian Reference Centre (with text-to-speech support)
The Canadian Reference Centre combines Canadian magazines, newspapers & newswires and reference books to create the largest collection of regional full text content available to Canadian libraries. Text-to-speech support gives users the option of listening to a synthethized voice reading the text of Canadian Reference Centre entries. This feature only functions with English language content.
Overdrive
Overdrive is a collection of audiobooks and e-books that will be available online through a website linked to the NBPLS website.
TumbleBooks
TumbleBook Library is an online collection of animated, talking picture books available through a link on the NBPLS website. TumbleBooks combine animation, sound, music and narration with existing picture books to produce an electronic picture book which can be read, and/or listened to from your home computer or a computer at your library.
Tell Me a Story
Many wonderful stories are just a click or a phone call away with Tell me a story. This French language telephone and internet based service allows children to hear stories in multiple languages. It is offered at no charge to New Brunswickers by BAnQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec) thanks to a partnership between BAnQ and the New Brunswick Public Library Service.
Tell Me More
Tell Me More offers instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing to learn English and French as well as other languages such as German, Italian, Dutch and Spanish. Tell Me More offers a speech recognition feature that assesses pronunciation. A set of headphones equipped with a noise canceling microphone is required to use this feature. Tell Me More can also be used without speech recognition.
Access is available to patrons from the Electronic Resources section of the NBPLS website. When users access the Tell Me More website for the first time, they must create a free personal account in order to track their progress and preferences.
