Accessibility
The Tay Township Public Library follows the accessibility policy and procedures set out by the Township of Tay.
Accessible Collections
Many of our DVDs include closed captioning for people with hearing loss.
Available to all library customers, large print books are complete, unabridged texts with clear type in at least 13-point font. Large print books can be found at all three library branches. Our collections include a choice of titles including best-sellers, mysteries and non-fiction.
These books are recordings of text being read, often by actors or other talented narrators. They are sound files, in various formats, and can be played over your computer, MP3 player, or on other listening devices depending on the file format. All you need to download audio books from the library is to have a library card with a PIN in good standing, Internet access, and listening/transferring software as explained below!
Use your Tay Township Public Library card to download audio books and listen to them on the go! Through the CloudLibrary app you have access to a huge library of downloadable audiobooks. Click here to download the CloudLibrary app to access all of our available audiobooks.
You will need your Library card number and pin to login to the app.
A solid-state prerecorded audio player that is about the size of a deck of playing cards and weighs 2 ounces. It can store up to 80 hours of audio and are produced in high definition audio. The digital content is preloaded at the factory and cannot be changed or copied by the end user. A 3.5 mm stereo jack provides output to earphones or an external amplifier.
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is an international format standard developed by libraries for the blind. DAISY audio books have superior sound quality and functionality compared to other audio formats. Special features include chapter, paragraph, phrase and word navigation, bookmarking, skimming, sleep modes and reading speed control.
DAISY titles fit on a single compact disc. These discs are meant to be played in special DAISY-compatible machines such as Victor Readers. For a list of player vendors, visit the DAISY marketplace. Because of their special formatting, DAISY discs cannot be played on standard CD players unless those players are MP3-compatible. If your CD player was manufactured in the last five years, there’s a good chance it is MP3-compatible and will also play DAISY audio books, although many of the special navigation features will not be available. At present, the Tay Township Public Library owns one Victor Reader DAISY playback device. Upon request, this unit can be made available at either branch to borrow.
DAISY titles can also be listened to on your computer, using DAISY playback software.
Digital Readers allow for simple, easy navigation through novels, magazines and other leisure books. Victor Reader players are ideal for your favorite leisure reading, best-sellers, novels, magazines, etc. They offer navigation features like browsing the table of contents, skipping from section to section or from page to page. All of the VICTOR players can play audio CDs as well as MP3 formats and DAISY standard digital books.
The Cela Library collection is available to any person who has trouble reading print because of a visual, physical or learning disability. Register today for access to more than 80,000 books, newspapers, magazines and movies in alternative formats.
The CELA Library offers many ways to read:
- Audio, e-text, Braille & other formats
- Accessible books, newspapers & magazines
- Material for all ages and interests
- Summer Reading Club for children
- Accessible online services – read or do research on the web
- Material in English or French
For more information about CELA and the services they offer click here.
Accessibility in the Built Environment
All Branches have sign restricted accessible parking for vehicles showing an Accessible Parking Permit. There is a fine for vehicles which do not have a Permit that are parked in accessible parking.
The Victoria Harbour and Waubaushene branches have fully accessible entrances with automatic door openers. Look for the access pad attached to the wall.
If you use a scooter as a mobility aid you may bring it into the Library.
Scooters used for regular transportation should be parked outside the Main Entrance without blocking access for other library users, including those with mobility aids.
Scooters used inside the library should be driven at a slow walking speed and with care for pedestrians.
All Branches the Public Service Desks offer:
- Wheelchair height with direct sight lines to staff for easy conversation.
All Branches have an accessible washroom with the required space for a wheelchair to maneuver.
Accessible Services
The staff at the Tay Township Public Library are always ready to help you. Please ask any library staff member if you need assistance with using the library:
- locating the title you want in the format you need
- looking for information in the library or online
- reaching for something on the shelf
- maneuvering through the aisles
- using the internet or wireless access
- printing or photocopying
- sending a fax
Please Remember: Just ask. That is what we are here for.
If it becomes necessary to close the library a notice will be posted on the door and on our Facebook page and an email will be sent to library users who have signed up for our library e-news service. The Library will make every effort possible to provide advance notice when library services or programs are cancelled, postpone, or interrupted. You can help us do that by phoning to ensure that the library branch is open and by registering in advance for programs.
Library staff will endeavour to assist library users in the event of an emergency situation, including emergency evacuation.
If you are accompanied by a Service Animal: The Library recognizes that service animals support independence and security for many people with various disabilities. Certified service animals are welcome in all branches of the Tay Township Public Library. The Library makes every reasonable effort to ensure that services and programs are compatible with your service animal.
If you are accompanied by a Support Person:
The Library recognizes that support people assist people with disabilities in a variety of ways, by assisting with communication such as an intervener or sign language interpreter or as a personal support worker providing physical assistance. A support person may also be a friend or relative who accompanies the library visitor to provide assistance and support.
Staff encourages the inclusion and access of support persons who are accompanying persons with disabilities. Generally the Library does not charge for programs. If there is an attendance fee this fee will be waived for support persons assisting clients. If the fee is for cost recovery for supplies and materials, the support person will be expected to pay the fee if they are participating fully in the project.
Assistive Technology
Each Tay Township Public Library branch has an accessible workstation for people who require the specialized technology.
- Adjustable Furniture: Workstation seating is adjustable. Workstations are wide enough to accommodate most wheelchairs of any size. Monitors are adjustable as well.
- Screen Magnification Software: Increases the size of text on the computer screen.
- Screen Reader Software: Reads aloud the content of the computer screen.
If it becomes necessary to close the library a notice will be posted on the door and on our Facebook page and an email will be sent to library users who have signed up for our library e-news service. The Library will make every effort possible to provide advance notice when library services or programs are cancelled, postpone, or interrupted. You can help us do that by phoning to ensure that the library branch is open and by registering in advance for programs.
Library staff will endeavour to assist library users in the event of an emergency situation, including emergency evacuation.
If you are accompanied by a Service Animal: The Library recognizes that service animals support independence and security for many people with various disabilities. Certified service animals are welcome in all branches of the Tay Township Public Library. The Library makes every reasonable effort to ensure that services and programs are compatible with your service animal.
If you are accompanied by a Support Person: The Library recognizes that support people assist people with disabilities in a variety of ways, by assisting with communication such as an intervener or sign language interpreter or as a personal support worker providing physical assistance. A support person may also be a friend or relative who accompanies the library visitor to provide assistance and support.
Staff encourages the inclusion and access of support persons who are accompanying persons with disabilities. Generally the Library does not charge for programs. If there is an attendance fee this fee will be waived for support persons assisting clients. If the fee is for cost recovery for supplies and materials, the support person will be expected to pay the fee if they are participating fully in the project.
Held and Sheet Magnifiers
Magnifying glasses for in-library use are available in each library branch.
Helpful Links
- Access Guide Canada – list of accessible community resources and organizations.
- Assistive Device Exchange – website that provides an opportunity to access assistive devices no longer needed by others. Use the Assistive Device Exchange to find, sell or give away equipment!
- Making Ontario Accessible is an Ontario government website that explains the requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) provides the full text document.
AODA Standard
Disabilities play no favorites and the number of people with disabilities is ever increasing. Today people with disabilities make up 15% of the total population. It is expected, in the very near future, people with disabilities will represent 20% of the total population. The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is to achieve a fully accessible province by the year 2025 by developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards. Requirements are objective-based and allow an organization to develop their own policies, practices and procedures to achieve the intended result. The goal of the Information and Communication Standard is to ensure that barriers to communication are reduced and that information is available to all people regardless of disability, including information provided on websites.
The County of Simcoe Library Co-operative and member libraries are most appreciative of receiving an Enabling Accessibility Fund grant (EAF) from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada which allowed for the innovative and collaborative redevelopment of the websites. GiantGoat Web Development Inc. was hired to design and implement a standardized template for the partner libraries that meets the mandatory accessibility requirements.
The official launch of the new library websites and catalogues for ten of the County of Simcoe Library Co-operative members was held at the Ramara Public Library on March 25, 2014. The Co-operative members are most proud of their partnership in a highly collaborative project.
Comments or information may be shared by emailing Heather Delong at library@taylibrary.ca