Accessibility | Clarington Library, Museums & Archives

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that respects their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, or the AODA.

We appreciate your feedback! Please submit a Member Feedback Form if you have any suggestions as to how we can enhance our service delivery.

Services

Service Disruptions and Program Cancellations

Notices of temporary disruptions to service and program cancellations are be posted on a combination of channels, including but not limited to our home page, news feed, web calendar, and social media. Information about service disruptions and program cancellations may also be obtained by calling Information Services at 905-623-7322 ext. 2712.

Alternate Formats

We offer documents and information in alternate formats. Upon request, we can provide accessible formats and communication supports for people with disabilities.

Please contact Megan Elliott, Manager, Business Administration, via email or at 905-623-7322 ext. 2701, and we will be happy to work with you to get you what you need.

Other Formats

Vision Enhancements

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives provides access to material in a variety of formats which are suited to accommodate those who may have a perceptual disability. Please contact a staff member if you require assistance locating material.

Books on CD
Audiobooks through Overdrive and hoopla
eBooks through Overdrive and hoopla (settings can be adjusted with the majority of our downloadable e-books to suit personal preferences for text size and typeface).
Large Print books
DAISY readers

Hearing Enhancements

Many DVDs in our collection have the sub-title option. Many of the databases we subscribe to offer text to speech capability, including TumbleBooks.

Website Features

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives website has many features that make it accessible.

It is not reliant on fixed fonts - patrons may zoom in and out to view the site to a size comfortable for their viewing
Text descriptions are available for all of the images used to facilitate those using screen readers
Device-independent interaction with the site: use a mouse, keyboard, et cetera

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives welcomes suggestions to our collection and feedback. Should you wish to speak with a staff member, please contact Member Services at 905-623-7322 x2712.

Language Services

In partnership with the Municipality of Clarington and to ensure we can provide inclusive customer service to all Clarington residents, Clarington has implemented a language translation system. The system provides Clarington with translation in more than 240 languages. Staff can access this translation service using a toll-free number for in-person customer service. Staff will also be able to use a conferencing feature during phone inquiries to get a translator on the line to help facilitate the conversation.

Special Collections: Accessible Reading Collection, Decodables

Decodable books and text passages are an important part of a structured literacy approach to reading instruction, using letter-sounds and spelling that have been explicitly taught. These books are especially important for students with dyslexia (or any reader in early stages of literacy) because they provide reading practice, help build fluency, and gain confidence as they become proficient with word-level reading. Explore our full Decodable collection via our online Library catalogue!

We’ll be expanding our Accessible Collection soon! Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more details.

Facility Features

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives is committed to providing accessible service. The Library and Museum provides:

Charging stations for mobility devices, including scooters and powered wheelchairs, available at the Bowmanville and Newcastle Libraries.
Priority computer stations at all locations feature high contrast keyboards and adaptive mice with adjustable tremor settings, button delays, click timers.
Hearing loops at all service points send wireless signals from a microphone to hearing aids and cochlear implants, providing customized service to those experiencing hearing loss.
Service desks at the Bowmanville, Courtice, and Newcastle Libraries that have a section accessible to persons who use a wheelchair or scooter.
Wheeled accessibility walkers (Rollators) are available for use by persons visiting the Library.
The multi-story Bowmanville Library has a passenger elevator equipped with Braille writing and audio announcements.
Computers at the Bowmanville and Newcastle Libraries are installed with a range of heights.
Security gate and stack clearances, between and at the end of stacks, are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or scooter.
The Bowmanville, Courtice, Newcastle, and Orono Libraries and the Sarah Jane Williams Heritage Centre are wheelchair accessible. Waverley Place is not wheelchair accessible due to the historic nature of the building.

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives welcomes feedback. Should you wish to speak with a staff member, please contact Member Services at 905-623-7322 x2712.

DAISY Readers

The Library is excited to offer a number of DAISY Victor Reader Stratus available for loan! These devices can play audiobooks (and music) via CDs, SD cards, USB flash drives, and Direct to Player for internet-enabled devices!

DAISY (the Digital Accessible Information System) is an audiobook system and player for those with print disabilities. These “digital talking books” offer built-in text-to-speech capability, and allow users to search, place bookmarks, navigate line by line, and control speaking speed.

New versions of DAISY offer Direct to Player, a quick and convenient way to receive DAISY audiobooks! Rather than relying on CDs being mailed or using a computer to download and transfer files, books can be sent directly to an internet-enabled device.

Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA)

Clarington Library, Museums & Archives offers access to a collection of over 500,000 books, magazines, newspapers in a choice of accessible formats for people with a print disability through the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA).

Enjoy a full range of subjects, genres, classics and award winners, and select from favourites for kids, teens, and adults. You can also stay up to date with 50 newspapers and 150 magazines. You can choose to download your titles, or receive home delivery by mail.

Access to the Collection

Members are able to access the collection in digital, audio, e-text, or braille formats, and through a variety of devices, including:

Downloading books or magazines to a computer or mobile device, such as an Apple or Android tablet or smartphone;
Downloading books or magazines to a DAISY player over a wireless connection without using a computer; and
Receiving audio CDs or braille mailed directly to your home.

Eligibility

Access to the CELA collection is available to people who are unable to read conventional print due to a disability, which includes:

Learning disability: an impairment relating to comprehension of print
Physical disability: the inability to hold or manipulate a book
Visual disability: severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one's eyes.

How to Sign Up

Sign up for CELA service with your public library card through CELA's website, or contact Clarington Library, Museums and Archives for assistance.

For more information about CELA, please visit their website.

Further Resources

Documents and policies