Hennepin County Library is committed to eliminating barriers that make it difficult for people with disabilities to use library services.

Adaptive Technology

SOFTWARE PROGRAMS
MAGic Pro is a magnification and speech program for low vision users. MAGic allows the user to magnify the screen from 2 to 16 times the original size. MAGic also "talks" to the user, repeating commands and helping to navigate the screen.

JAWS for Windows is a screen reader (also called Voice Output Technology.) This software is designed for the blind and allows users to access hyperlinks and content on a Web page.
MAGic and JAWS are available at all suburban Hennepin County Libraries.

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. A scanner is required to use the application.
OpenBook is available at:

Brookdale Brooklyn Park Eden Prairie Edina Maple Grove Plymouth

Ridgedale Rockford Road St. Louis Park Southdale Westonka

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:

Augsburg Park Edina Ridgedale

Rogers Southdale Westonka

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:

Brooklyn Park Maple Grove Hopkins Oxboro Plymouth

Ridgedale Southdale Wayzata Westonka

TELEVISION WITH TELECAPTION DECODER
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:

Brookdale Champlin Plymouth

Ridgedale Southdale

Building and Program Accommodations
All Hennepin County libraries, except St. Bonifacius, 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:

Augsburg Park Brookdale Brooklyn Park Eden Prairie Edina Maple Grove

Oxboro Penn Lake Plymouth Ridgedale Rockford Road Southdale

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, ask a librarian to help you reserve it and have it sent to the most convenient library.

AUDIO TAPES and CDs
Books on tape and CD cover a range of fiction titles as well as various nonfiction topics.

CLOSED-CAPTIONED VIDEOS and DVDs
Closed-captioned videos and DVDs accommodate people who are deaf or hard of hearing by displaying dialogue and narration on the screen. A closed-captioned decoder or specially-equipped television is required for videos.

LARGE PRINT BOOKS
Large print books and other publications use large type and increased spacing between lines to make the print easier to read.

Outreach Services

AT HOME LIBRARY SERVICE
At Home Library service delivers books and other materials by mail or by a volunteer to homebound individuals. For details, call 847-8850.