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Accessible Services

Programs

Bookmobile Service

The Santa Clara County Library Bookmobile is a library on wheels with books, magazines, compact disks, DVDs, large-print books, and other materials for all ages. The Bookmobile regularly visits designated sites within Santa Clara County. Check the current schedule for stop locations and times or pick up a copy at your local Community Library.
Bookmobile materials are checked out for a period of two weeks and may be returned to the Bookmobile or to any other public library in the county.
If you have any questions, comments or requests, call the Bookmobile office at (408) 293-2326 x3060

Homebound Service

Santa Clara County Library offers free delivery of library services to the homebound residing in our service area. A wide variety of library materials, including books, videos, DVDs, music CDs, talking books, and large-print materials may be selected for a patron.

The first step in applying for this service is to contact the reference desk of the Community Library in your area. Our staff will prepare a profile of the type of library materials of interest to the homebound person. A community library staff or volunteer will deliver the materials, or they will be mailed with return postage provided. Since there is a limited number of materials that can be mailed, the patron may prefer to send someone to pick up the materials our staff has selected.

Braille and Talking Book Library

Borrowers with visual or other disabilities may be eligible to borrow recorded and Braille books and devices from the Braille and Talking Book Library, a branch of the California State Library. You may find out more by calling (toll-free) 1 (800) 952-5666 or by visiting the reference desk of your local library.

Books Aloud, Inc.

Books Aloud, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization which records books on cassette tape for free loan to the blind and disabled. Recordings can be mailed directly to the home of eligible readers, or may be sent to your local library within Santa Clara County. Call (408) 808-2613 or contact the reference desk at your Community Library for more information.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) offers audio textbooks that match schools’ core curricula and students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). With thousands of titles, RFB&D audio textbooks make curricula accessible to all students with print disabilities. As students transition to college, RFB&D offers top ranked college titles.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Through a national network of cooperating libraries, the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States as well as eligible U.S. citizens living abroad.

Collections

Large Print

Large-print books are published with oversized print intended for use by low-vision readers of all ages. Each Community Library has a wide collection of books in large type. Large-print magazines are also available.

Large Print Honor Collections for Institutions

Facilities that serve seniors and people with limited mobility - such as nursing homes, convalescent hospitals, and day care programs - may request a collection of large type books. The collection is loaned free of charge for 3 to 6 months and then replaced with new titles. Facilities must be located within the Santa Clara County Library service area. To request this service, contact the Adult Services Manager at (408) 293-2326 x3010.

Audio books and Playaways

The audio versions of thousands of books for all ages are available at each Community Library. Audio books are available in compact disk and cassette formats.

Playaways are an audio book format that combines a wide variety of content with an easy-to-use player contained in one small unit. Users must provide earbuds and a battery. When checking out and using Playaway, just press play to start listening immediately – there’s no need for a separate player.

Downloadable Audio books, E-books

Patrons who are visually impaired can download audio books to their home computers, and then transfer them to a variety of portable audio devices for listening. Patrons who are hearing impaired can download e-books to their home computer with the Adobe Digital Editions program and then transfer the files to a portable reading device for viewing. To learn more about some of our downloadable services, check out OverDrive.

In addition to our downloadable collection, OverDrive is now partners with Bookshare.org, a non-profit agency that provides online access to accessible e-books for the print-impaired. The program is entitled LEAP (Library eBook Accessibility Program). Patrons who qualify will need to register and provide Proof of Disability*. Once approved, patrons receive 20 downloads per month. The collection includes over 60,000 digital books, textbooks, newspapers and magazines. The e-book titles are provided in two formats:

DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System)
This format is used for many devices and software applications, such as Victor Reader Soft Bookshare Edition and READ:OutLoud Bookshare Edition.
BRF (Braille Refreshable Format)
This format is used with Braille reading devices or Braille printers.

These formats can be read with computers, assistive reading devices, Braille printers and MP3 players. In addition, Bookshare provides two free DAISY readers and free voices. Patrons need to be logged in as a member to download this software.

To learn more about LEAP, visit our online OverDrive collection and near the top of the page select the link that reads “Accessible eBooks for the print-impaired – Click here.” Follow the prompts and instructions in order to complete the registration process for LEAP membership.

* Patrons who are members of the National Library Service or the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic may submit this information as Proof of Disability.

Closed-Captioned DVDs and Videos for the Hearing Impaired

Closed-captioned displays the audio portion of a movie or television program text on the television screen. It appears as subtitles that are typed out on the screen with the words the characters are saying. Ask a staff member for assistance in finding closed-captioned movie titles in the catalog.

Descriptive DVDs and Videos for Users who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Descriptive DVDs and videos provide additional narration that describes key visual elements, actions, settings, costumes and facial expressions. Ask a staff member for assistance in finding descriptive movie titles in the catalog.

Electronic Resources Recommended by Staff

Take a look at our Disability E-Resources that have been hand picked by our librarians. Selected websites include guides, directories, services and advocacy for people with disabilities.

Equipment

“Access for All” ADA Computers

Each Community Library has a “Access for All” ADA computer which enables the visually and hearing impaired to access the library's catalog of books, videos, talking books, etc., as well as the World Wide Web. These special stations include access to ZoomText 9.1, which offers screen magnification and screen reading. The computer magnifies characters on the computer screen progressively larger until it is the size the user wishes. If the user prefers, the voice activation can be turned on and the computer will read the screen, with the user regulating the loudness of the voice and the speed at which the screen is read.

Magnification Devices

Library users with low vision can get help in seeing materials more easily with desktop video magnifiers installed in Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Saratoga libraries. The easy-to-use device uses a 19 inch flat screen display to magnify from 2.5 to 56 times the original size. In addition to assisting individuals with vision problems read books, magazines, newspapers, maps, personal correspondence and other printed materials, the equipment can provide everyone a close-up look at photographs, old coins, family heirlooms, and fine artwork.

Hand held magnifying glasses are also available at the Information Desk. Patrons can visit the Information Desk of their local community library to ask to lend these magnifying glasses for reading within the library.

TDD

The Santa Clara County maintains a TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) phone line at (408) 364-1528 for hearing impaired users who wish to contact the library and ask questions about the library and its services or request information from a librarian.

Assistive Listening Device

The Multipurpose Room(s) of the Milpitas and Morgan Hill Libraries are equipped with Assistive Listening Device technology. These are wireless units with earphones that synchronize with the wireless microphone channel to amplify sound for patrons who are hearing impaired. These units are available during large events and programs. Ask a staff member for assistance or further information about this technology.