Accessibility
Accessible Collections
Large Print Books
Available to all library customers, large print books are complete, unabridged texts with clear type in at least 13-point font. Large print books can be found at both library branches. Our collections include a choice of titles including bestsellers, mysteries and non-fiction.
Audiobooks on CD
NTPL has a large collection of abridged and unabridged books on CD that are available to borrow from all three branches of the library. These books are recordings of text being read, often by actors or other talented narrators. They can be played over your computer or your CD player.
Downloadable Audio Books
These books are recordings of text being read, often by actors or other talented narrators. They are sound files, in various formats, and can be played over your computer, MP3 player, or on other listening devices depending on the file format. All you need to download audio books from the library is your library card (with PIN), Internet access, and listening/transferring software as explained below.
Browse, Checkout, Download – Easy as 1-2-3: Use your New Tecumseth Public Library card to download audio books and listen to them on the go! Our catalogue has over 2500 audio books available in MP3 format. MP3 books can be enjoyed on a computer, or downloaded directly to mobile devices (iPhone/Pad, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone) that have the Libby app and/or cloudLibrary app installed.
PlayAway Recorded Audio Books
A solid-state pre-recorded audio player that is about the size of a deck of playing cards and weighs 2 ounces (57 grams). It can store up to 80 hours of high definition audio. The digital content is preloaded at the factory and cannot be changed or copied by the end user. A 3.5 mm stereo jack provides output to earphones or an external amplifier.
DAISY Audio Books
DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is an international format standard developed by libraries for the blind. DAISY audio books have superior sound quality and functionality compared to other audio formats. Special features include chapter, paragraph, phrase and word navigation, bookmarking, skimming, sleep modes and reading speed control.
DAISY titles fit on a single compact disc. These discs are meant to be played in special DAISY-compatible machines such as Victor Readers. For a list of player vendors, visit the DAISY marketplace. Because of their special formatting, DAISY discs cannot be played on standard CD players unless those players are MP3-compatible. If your CD player was manufactured in the last five years, there’s a good chance it is MP3-compatible and will also play DAISY audio books, although many of the special navigation features will not be available. At present, the New Tecumseth Public Library owns two Victor Reader DAISY playback devices. Upon request, these units can be borrowed at any of our branches.
DAISY titles can also be listened to on your computer, using DAISY playback software.
Digital Readers – VICTOR Players
Digital Readers allow for simple, easy navigation such as browsing the table of contents, skipping from section to section or from page to page. Victor Reader players are ideal for your favorite leisure reading, bestsellers, novels, magazines, etc. All of the VICTOR players can play audio CDs as well as MP3 formats and DAISY standard digital books.
CELA Program
The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) Public library service is for Canadians with print disabilities.
The CELA collection is available to any person who has trouble reading print because of a visual, physical or learning disability. Register today for access to more than 80,000 books, newspapers, magazines and movies in alternative formats.
CELA offers many ways to read:
- Audio, e-text, Braille & other formats
- Accessible books, newspapers & magazines
- Material for all ages and interests
- Summer Reading Club for children
- Accessible online services – read or do research on the web
- Material in English or French
Special Services
BrowseAloud Plus
Listen to this website with BrowseAloud Plus. Whether you are using a Smartphone, Tablet, PC or Mac, BrowseAloud Plus will provide the speech and reading support tools you require for free.
What is BrowseAloud Plus?
BrowseAloud Plus reads website content out loud using the most natural and engaging voice to transform your online reading experience. New features include: Translator, Simplifier, Screen Masking for Touch Screens and the ability to personalize the settings to suit individual needs and preferences.
Other features include:
- Dual-Color Highlighting
- MP3 Maker
- Secure Site Reading
- Text Magnification
- Screen Masking
- PDF Reading
- Translator
- Pronunciation Modifier
- International Languages
More than 7,000 websites use BrowseAloud, so once you have it on your device you can listen to all of these websites too. For more information, please visit www.browsealoud.com.
Who does BrowseAloud Plus help?
BrowseAloud Plus helps website visitors who require online reading support and those who simply prefer to listen to information instead of reading it. Those with print disabilities, such as dyslexia or mild visual impairments, and those with English as a second language find BrowseAloud Plus particularly useful.
How do I get BrowseAloud Plus?
Click on the BrowseAloud Icon that appears on the top right corner of each page of this website to launch the BrowseAloud Plus toolbar
Then simply click any text to hear it read aloud.
Support with using BrowseAloud Plus
A full range of support services are provided for BrowseAloud Plus:
Web: www.browsealoud.com/support
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (888) 248-4947
Held and Sheet Magnifiers: Magnifying glasses for in-library use are available in each library branch.
Helpful Links
Access Guide Canada – list of accessible community resources and organizations.
Assistive Device Exchange – website that provides an opportunity to access assistive devices no longer needed by others. Use the Assistive Device Exchange to find, sell or give away equipment!
AODA Information & Communication Standard
Disabilities play no favorites and the number of people with disabilities is ever increasing. Today people with disabilities make up 15% of the total population. It is expected, in the very near future, people with disabilities will represent 20% of the total population.
The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is to achieve a fully accessible province by the year 2025 by developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards. Requirements are objective-based and allow an organization to develop their own policies, practices and procedures to achieve the intended result. The goal of the Information and Communication Standard is to ensure that barriers to communication are reduced and that information is available to all people regardless of disability, including information provided on websites.
The County of Simcoe Library Co-operative and member libraries are most appreciative of receiving an Enabling Accessibility Fund grant (EAF) from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada which allowed for the innovative and collaborative redevelopment of the websites.
The library websites and catalogues for ten of the County of Simcoe Library Co-operative members was held at the Ramara Public Library on March 25, 2014. The Co-operative members are most proud of their partnership in a highly collaborative project.
Comments or information may be shared by emailing Jessica Mole at [email protected].