Services-Special Needs

The Mansfield/Richland County Public Library is dedicated to providing equal access to its customers, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities. The library provides the following services to the public:

• Talking Books Program, which "provides free recorded books, magazines and playback equipment to...eligible blind, visually impaired, physically handicapped, and reading disabled (Richland County) residents."
• Large Print Fiction and Nonfiction Books
• Audio Books on CD, and MP3.
• Descriptive and Closed-Captioned Movies
• Golden Buckeye Card
• The Adult Services department of our Main Library features a Teletypewriter (TTY) Machine which allows hearing-impaired customers to contact the library.
• Our Ontario Branch features a MagniSight Explorer, a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) which magnifies materials for vision-impaired customers.
• Sign Language interpreters for programming available upon request.
• Accessible Handicapped Parking
• Accessible Entrances and Restrooms

For further questions regarding services to the disabled community, contact the Main Library.

Internet Resources for Hearing-Impaired Customers

• National Association of the Deaf
• Ohio School for the Deaf
• Federal Relay Service
• Deaf Resource Library
• National Center on Deafness

Internet Resources for Visually-Impaired Customers

• American Council of the Blind
• Blindness Resource Center
• National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
• MoPix-Motion Picture Access
• Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled

Internet Search Engines for the Blind or Physically Handicapped

• Google Accessible Search Engine

Assistive/Adaptive Technology Resources

• American Library Association--Mates, Adaptive Technology for the Internet.
• Learning Ally (Recording For the Blind and Dyslexic)
• Web Accessibility Initiative
• Microsoft Accessibility
• Apple Accessibility

Community Resources

• Independent Living Center of North Central Ohio. Telephone: (419) 526-6770.
• Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. Telephone: (419) 747-3000.
• Catalyst Life Services. Crisis Help Line: 419.522.HELP (4357).
• North Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center. Telephone:(419) 747-4808. Toll Free: (800) 424-7372 (Ohio Only.)
• Dial-A-Ride. Telephone: (419) 522-4504.