Library Facilities for Disabled People

Induction loops are installed at the reception desks in all of our libraries.

All reception areas have low level access.

Magnification equipment is available in the County Library Barry, Penarth, Cowbridge, and Llantwit Major libraries. Staff at these libraries can arrange an introduction to using this equipment by prior appointment.

A number of licences are held for Zoomtext software, which is available for public use in all of our libraries.

Scanners that read text aloud are available in County Library Barry, Penarth, and Cowbridge libraries.

We operate a home borrower service for older people and those with disabilities who are unable to get to our libraries.

Deaf-awareness collections are available in the County Library Barry, Penarth, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major and Dinas Powys libraries. These include collections of information books, BSL signed children’s books, videos with BSL for children, and fiction with deaf characters.

Large print and talking books are available in all libraries.

There are concessions on talking books (shortly to be extended to music) for people with a significant sight problem, with dyslexia, or who have a physical disability that means they cannot hold a book.

We operate a bibliotherapy scheme. Relevant self-help books are available in all of our libraries for people with mild mental health conditions. Participants are issued with a prescription for the books from a prescribed list by GPs or other health professionals.

Audio described and subtitled DVDs are held as part of the normal DVD collection. They are specified in the catalogue and labelled for ease of identification.

Periodically we organise Word Up days in our libraries in collaboration with Cardiff Institute for the Blind, where we promote library facilities for the visually impaired and showcase equipment available from Cardiff Institute for the Blind. This service is promoted to registered visually impaired people in the Vale through the Institute's channels.

Further information on specific facilities as well as general information on our libraries, including location and contact details, can be sought from the libraries section of this website.