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Oakland Public Library              www.oaklandlibrary.org

Library users who are deaf, hard of hearing, or who have speech disorders can call the City of Oakland TTY at (510) 238-3254 with reference questions or with questions about library holdings and library services.

Library users can also use the CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICE to call the library. (1-800-735-2929 TTY, 1-800-735-2922 Voice, or just dial 711) Callers are connected to an operator who can transmit spoken words to a recipient with a TTY, or vice versa. There is also Speech to Speech, a form of Relay Services that provides Communications Assistants (CA’s) for people with speech disabilities who have difficulty being understood on the phone. (1-800-854-7784, or 711)

A PHONIC EAR listening assistive system is available for use at library-sponsored programs, with 5 working days notice. This is for the hard of hearing.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS, REAL-TIME CAPTIONING, or AUDIO TRANSLATION are available for library-sponsored programs, with 5 working days notice.

There is a Sorenson VideoPHONE or VRS station in the Lobby at the Main Library. People who are deaf can telephone others using a television and a camera. They can call using sign language, either to a hearing recipient using a relay operator, or to someone else deaf who has a VRS set up. The maximum use per person is 1 hour a day.

ROLLATORS (walkers) are available at the Main Library and Dimond for use within the library. They are equipped with a large basket for carrying library materials to the checkout desk, plus they all come with a seat and backrest when one might need to take a break.

Adaptive technology station at the Main Library is in the “Kurzweil Room” across from the circulation desk. A workstation include sit-stand tables, JAWS, ZoomText, Kurzweil 1000 and 3000, Inspiration, Internet, word processing, and library catalogs. To use the computer you need your library card and a pin number. Computers can be reserved three days in advance. Maximum 2 hours per day. (* Find out how to use it for the second hour on the last page of this flier)

JAWS is a screen reader, reading aloud information from the computer screen. Ask for a list of available off-site training.

ZOOMTEXT is a magnification and reading software, magnifying and reading information from the computer screen.

KURZWEIL 1000 READING MACHINE for blind users can scan and read a book aloud in English, Spanish, French, Russian, German or Italian.

KURZWEIL 3000 is a reading program for people with learning disabilities. This machine scans a text or the Internet and reads it aloud at the same time as it displays it on the monitor. It includes a dictionary and many study aids. It also will scan and read in other languages.

INSPIRATION software is installed in the Kurzweil room and the Teen Zone at Main. Inspiration helps 6th to 12th grade students. Students build graphic organizers to represent concepts and relationships and use the integrated outlining capability to further organize ideas for reports.

A collection of materials on learning disabilities, including autism and Asperger’s, is at the Main Library and in the Teen collections. This includes the 22-video set by Melvin Levine called Developing Minds.

The Library owns AUDIO TUTORIALS to teach blind and low-vision users how to use computers, word processing, and the Internet. They are in the Kurzweil room at the Main Library.

VIDEO MAGNIFIERS (CCTVs) are available on the first floor of the Main Library and in the Magazine and Newspaper Room on the 2nd Floor. Printed material and objects can be placed under a camera and the magnified image is displayed on a screen. It does not interface with a computer, but allows you to magnify books, letters, or any other text.

Catalogs and applications to borrow free recorded and Braille materials from the California State Library Braille and Talking Book Library are available at Reference Services at the Main Library. Applications are also available at each branch or online at www.library.ca.gov

The library owns many DESCRIPTIVE VIDEOS. These are for people who are blind or who have low vision. A narrative description of the action has been inserted into the original soundtrack and picture. Unlike other videos, these go out for three weeks and can be reserved and sent to any branch.

There is a collection of books in LARGE TYPE.

Pictograms representing the Dewey Decimal System are mounted on the bookshelves at the Main Library, including the Children’s Room and the Teen Zone. These were designed as universal access, to aid those with learning disabilities and others, such as non-native English speakers.

The library has many BOOKS AND MAGAZINES relating to disabilities. Some magazines are Braille Forum, New Mobility, and Spectrum. Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind and Choice Magazine are on audiotapes which may be checked out. They are on shelves outside the “Kurzweil Room” at the Main Library.

Second Start Adult Literacy is a local literacy provider that dispenses high-quality literacy services in our community. Second Start provides instruction, in a confidential setting, in which adults can learn to read, write and spell. They are accredited through ProLiteracy America as standing in the first rank of institutions for library literacy. Call 238-3432.

The library offers EXTENDED SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. This includes extended circulation loans on library materials. See the Extended Services description and application. These applications are also available in Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Braille versions.

The Library offers E-ANSWERS SERVICE, an easy way to get brief answers to questions via e-mail. This service can be found on the library’s web site www.oaklandlibrary.org. You can also call any library with a reference question.

Please feel free to call Jamie Turbak, with any questions, concerns, or suggestions at 510-238-6610, or email her at jturbak@oaklandlibrary.org

Information for library users with disabilities who may need two hours on the computers

Oakland Public Library recognizes that sometimes people with disabilities need more time on the computers. This could be due to a vision, hearing, physical or cognitive disability.

To become a 2-hour computer user, verification of disability is required. Verifications include: a disabled parking placard with the registration for that placard, a disabled transit pass such as the East Bay Paratransit Certification, a letter on an official letterhead from a doctor, social worker, registered nurse, psychologist, or learning disabilities, rehabilitation, or special education teacher. If verification is not for a permanent disability, verification will be required at the time of library card renewal.

Please submit your application for Extended Services and verification of disability to:
Jamie Turbak, Main Library
125 14th Street, Oakland CA 94612
 Or fax: 510-238-2232

A second library card that can only be used for computer time will be mailed to you in approximately two weeks.  
       
                                                                Updated October 2011