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Outreach Services - Low Hearing and Vision Services

Monitor Photo

Christy Wagner, Outreach Coordinator, (847)438-3433 ext. 140
Michele Hills (847)438-3433 ext. 212
Midge Simms (847)438-3433 ext. 221

The Outreach Services Department is charged with providing library services to several groups residing within the library district’s boundaries. Included in these groups are individuals with special needs – individuals unable to physically access the library (including those who are temporarily homebound due to illness, surgery, or accidents); patrons with low vision or hearing loss; individuals for whom English is a second language; developmentally disabled individuals; patrons confined to nursing homes and/or assisted-living facilities and the mature adult patron. In addition to the services listed below, the Outreach Services Department also offers informational and entertaining programs at the library throughout the year. These events are listed under the Adult Programs in the library’s newsletter, Footnotes and on the on-line Events calendar.

Hearing Loss

Amplification Units
Listening amplification devices are available for patrons to use at a program or a meeting held at the library or in a class in one of our Computer Labs. Please notify the Outreach staff or Information Desk if you require a listening device for any of these situations.

TV EARS
The TV Ears® unit is a noise reduction TV headset that can be used with a patron’s home television set. The headset allows the user to hear what is being broadcast without having the sound at high levels which can disrupt other viewers and/or neighbors. This equipment is available for check-out for home use by patrons in the Homebound program.

Illinois Relay Service
Illinois Relay Service is a free service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is easily accessed from any phone within the state by simply dialing 7-1-1. All calls are received by a trained communications assistant who acts as a facilitator/interpreter between those who are deaf, deaf and blind, hard of hearing, or speech impaired and those with normal speech and hearing. All calls are confidential and no record is retained of any conversations.

Low Vision Services

A comprehensive approach to services for patrons with low vision is provided by the Outreach Services department including a variety of low vision materials and equipment which can be loaned to the patron. Recognizing that low vision needs vary from patron to patron, the Outreach staff is available to meet with patrons who have questions about library and/or community services for people with low vision. Please contact the Outreach staff to set a time for a personal meeting to review these services.

A low vision magnifying reader is located on the first floor in the Popular Materials department for patrons to use on a walk-in basis. Ask for assistance at the Information desk. Hand held magnifiers or magnifier pages are available at most public service desks also.

Circulating Magnifiers
There are five electronic magnifiers available for 4-week checkout. This service is limited to Ela Area Library patrons. Contact Outreach staff to request one of these units.

Amigo Portable Handheld Magnifier
This lightweight handheld magnifier is ideal for grocery shopping, restaurant menus, and check writing. It is available for in-library use or may be checked out by Ela library patrons for a three week period. Contact Outreach staff to reserve the AMIGO.

Talking Books
Books for the Blind or Physically Disabled (BPH) or the “Talking Books” program, as it is more commonly, known is available to patrons who qualify for this federally funded Library of Congress program. A BPH tape recorder is supplied to each certified user and tapes of client-selected favorites are mailed to and returned from the client’s front door. The Outreach Services Department has application forms available for this service and is also able to certify applications. The regional site for Ela patrons, Voices of Vision, is located in Geneva, IL (http://www.vovtbc.org). The Voices of Vision toll free number is: 1 800 227-0625.

DVS Videos
A small selection of DVS (Described Video Service) videos are located on the end caps of the Large Print collection. These videos contain audio descriptions of the action in the movie for those with limited or low vision.

Large Print Materials
Our ever-expanding collection of over 6200 items in large print fiction and non-fiction is one part of the Popular Materials collection located on the first floor. The collection includes biographies, recent bestsellers and some classics. Large print titles not owned by the Ela Area Public Library may be available through interlibrary loan.

Audio Books
The library has an extensive collection of audio books in a variety of audio formats; CD, MP3 and Play Away in addition to our collection of 2500 digital downloadable audio books.