Library Services for the Visually Impaired
At Orkney Library & Archive we want to give everyone the opportunity to access our services, to participate in the social activities and groups that go on in the library, and to enjoy reading at every stage of their lives.
Reading can be a massive challenge for people with visual impairments but at Orkney Library & Archive we have a range of equipment, technologies and services that can support those with vision or print impairments.
If you feel that you, or a friend, neighbour or family member would benefit from any of the services listed below please direct them to this page or contact the library on 01856 873166 for more information.
Large Print Books, Audio Books and Tactile Books
Orkney Library has a collection of titles in large print format including a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. We have Audio books in CD format for adults and children of all ages. For younger children we can supply a Bookbug bag that includes tactile books that were developed by Scottish Booktrust in consultation with children, families and organisations working with blind and partially sighted children. Audio versions of the books are also available online.
BorrowBox
Orkney Library members get FREE ACCESS to eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines with the BorrowBox App which can be installed on PCs, laptops, tablets and phones. The FREE BorrowBox App offers a large collection of digital content to choose from and can be downloaded from wherever you normally get your Apps.
BorrowBox users can adjust the text size, spacing and font to suit their needs and there are different background colours to assist with different light levels and visual conditions.
Our eAudiobook users can choose to speed up or slow down the recording to suit their needs or preferences. For iOS device users it works with VoiceOver and for Android it works with TalkBack.
Magnifiers and Readers
We have a range of magnifiers available to use within the library from a desktop reading magnifier to portable magnifying sheets which you can carry around with you. We also have a portable LED magnifier, a neck-worn magnifier and magnifying LED lamp.
We have two C-Pen Readers which can be used to scan passages of text and convert it to speech. These can be very useful for readers with dyslexia or similar conditions, and are available from staff on request.
Board Games and Jigsaws
We have large format board games and jigsaws available for use in the library. These offer an opportunity for visually impaired users to play and socialise with others in a comfortable space.
Orkney Talking Newspaper
Volunteers meet twice weekly in Orkney Library & Archive to prepare and record an audio version of The Orcadian newspaper. This is recorded onto USB sticks and posted out for free using the Royal Mail Articles for the Blind scheme. Find out more information about Orkney Talking Newspaper on their website.
Sensory Room
The Sensory Room is a darkened room with an interactive floor projector, light up bubble tubes and other projecting equipment. The floor projector uses light, sound and colourful visuals and is particularly popular with children but can be useful for users with other sensory conditions.
The Sensory Room is on the ground floor of the library and is a space that usually available but can also be booked by schools and other groups. Contact us for booking or for more information.
Visually Impaired Group
This friendly and informal group also known as the VIPs, meets in the MacGillivray Room at Orkney Library & Archive once a month for a cuppa and a chat. Contact us for more information.
National Book Lending Services
The following charities may be able to help with accessing text and continuing enjoyment of reading via formats alternative to print.
Calibre A postal service for books in CD/MP3 or USB memory stick format as well as digital titles available to stream. Call 01296 432339 for more information.
Clearvision A postal service for children’s books in print, braille and tactile formats. Call 020 8789 9575 for more information.
RNIB Library Over 40,000 fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children available as DAISY CD or USB stick as well as digital titles available to stream. Call 0303 123 9999 for more information.