| Adaptive Technology Building Accommodations Library Materials At Home Services |
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ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAB
Located on the first floor of Minneapolis Central Library, five workstations feature 21-inch monitors and scanners. Software available for users with vision loss includes JAWS, Open Book, Zoomtext Xtra, Kurzweil 3000 and Magic screen enlarger. The Adaptive Technology Lab has devices for users with physical disabilities, including large keyboards, touchpads, trackballs and specialty mice. A Z-phone that uses video relay service is available for library patrons who use American Sign Language.
Classes and events at the Adaptive Technology Lab.
Volunteer assistance is also available weekly at the Adaptive Technology Lab.
| Sunday | Noon – 2 p.m. |
| Monday | Noon – 2 p.m. |
MAGIC AND JAWS
MAGic Pro is a magnification and speech program for low vision users. MAGic allows the user to magnify the screen up to16 times the original size and "talks" to the user, repeating commands and helping to navigate the screen.
JAWS for Windows is a screen reader. Designed for people who are blind, it allows users to access hyperlinks and content on a Web page.
MAGic and JAWS are available at all Hennepin County Libraries.
OPEN BOOK
Open Book is Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software which allows a user to scan mail, books, articles, or printed microform to an application which reads it.
Available at:
ELECTRONIC PRINT MAGNIFIER
Magnifies any print item (may be handwritten) up to 45-60 times its original size and projects it on a TV screen.
Available at:
MAGNIFYING GLASS
A hand-held magnifier enables people to enlarge and read print materials in the library. Available at the information desk at all libraries.
POCKETALKER II™
Personal microphone and headset system allows individual amplification for the headset wearer.
Available at the information desk at:
Provides written captions of words as they are spoken on a television program that provides closed captioning (cc). Also accommodates closed captioned videos.
Available at:
Z-PHONE
A Z-phone that uses video relay service is available in the Adaptive Technology Lab at Minneapolis Central for library customers who use ASL (American Sign Language) to use to communicate with any library staff. The phone is available when the library is open and can be requested at the Welcome Desk. The video relay service uses VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) and a high quality video camera with certified interpreters and is provided at no cost to qualified people through Federal Communication Commission funding.
Available at:
Building Accommodations
All Hennepin County libraries, except St. Bonifacius and Roosevelt, are accessible. Besides accessible restrooms, most buildings have automatic door openers.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM
Amplifies sound from a microphone through infrared system for person(s) wearing a headset. In Meeting Rooms at:
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
Available for library programs by request. Contact the library hosting the event for more information.
Library Materials
If an item that you want is not available at your library, you can Ask Us to help you reserve it and have it sent to the most convenient library. Large print books, closed-captioned videos and DVDs, and audio books are
available though the library. Also, downloadable audiobooks and ebooks are accessible.
