Special Needs Services

The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library offers a variety of services for persons with special needs.

Accessible Libraries

The Churchill Branch Library located at the Churchill Mall is wheelchair accessible.

The Main Library at 50 East Street is a split-level design, with stairs leading to the lower level and the upper level.  In April 2008 the existing lift was replaced by a new elevator making all levels of the Main Library accessible to everyone.

Assistive Workstation

The Digital lab, located at the Main Library, hosts an Assistive Workstation for patrons with special visual, learning or physical needs.  This workstation provides access to the library catalogue and databases, the Internet, email, and word processing programs.

The workstation is equipped with Zoom Text screen magnifying software and JAWS screen reading software.

Patrons may book the Assistive Workstation by contacting the Main Library Information Desk.  Use of the Assistive Workstation is free of charge.

VisuNet Partners Program

The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library is a CNIB VISUNET Partner, offering access to CNIB VisuNet services to persons with a perceptual disability (visual, physical or learning disability) that makes using regular books difficult.  The VisuCAT Database is part of the VISUNET Partners Program and consists of an online catalogue of recorded cassettes, described videos, music scores and Braille books that are available from the CNIB Library in Toronto.  Inquire at the Main Library Information Desk.  This services is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

DAISY Readers and DAISY Books

The Main Library holds a collection of Talking Books in the DAISY format.

Two DAISY Readers are also available for borrowing by library patrons who do not have their own reader.  DAISY Readers may be borrowed, free of charge, from the desk at the Main Library Children's Department.

Visiting Library Service (Outreach Program)

A book delivery service available to seniors and those unable to get to the library on their own.  Books are selected and delivered to houses and nursing/retirement homes by volunteers each month.

Kurzweil Reader

Available at the Churchill Branch Library for patrons with visual disabilities.  When books or magazines are placed on the reader and a voice reads the text out loud.  Call Churchill Branch at 759-5248 for more information.

Talking Books

Available for patrons with a visual or physical disability.  These "books" are available in cassette tape format.

Books on CD

May be borrowed by any patron using a valid library card.

Described Videos and DVDs

For Library members with a visual disability.  The action on the screen is described for the viewer.

Close-captioned Videos and DVDs

For the hearing impaired.  This feature allows the hearing impaired patron to read the dialogue in subtitles on the screen.

Large Print Books

All library branches have extensive collections of books in Large Print format.