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.