As the first day of fall drops on us like the leaves parachuting from the trees in our prairie-based city, it’s a good time to think of the books you might want to snuggle up with over the coming months.
Airdrie Public Library (APL) has a huge collection of books and, of course, millions to browse online through the TRACpac app.
But what if you have difficulty reading print due to visual, physical, or learning disabilities? Well, APL offers some very cool services for people with vision disabilities.
APL is a member of the Centre for Equitable Library Services (CELA), which provides access to more than 650,000 items, such as audiobooks. Books, magazines, and newspapers can also be shipped in or downloaded directly from the CELA website.
Materials are currently available in English, French, Cantonese, Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, and Swedish.
An APL membership is required to borrow items from CELA, and you’ll also have to register with them as well, which is a simple process.
In addition to the items available through CELA, library card holders also have access to Bookshare, which offers more than 750,000 downloadable books, textbooks, and newspapers. Then there’s the National Network of Equitable Library Services (NNELS) – an online repository of accessible formats for patrons with vision, mobility, and comprehension impairments that prevent them from reading a traditional book.
A library membership is required, and in order to access the online collection, you’ll need to sign up for an NNELS account through their homepage. Again, it's as simple a process as signing up for CELA.
So, if you have trouble reading print due to visual, physical, or learning disabilities, the above is important to know.
For more information on APL’s programs and services, visit airdriepubliclibrary.ca, call 403-948-0600 or stop by and get your free library card.
