Memorial Hall Library

Library Services for People With Disabilities


Contents

Memorial Hall Library is committed to making library services accessible to all our users.

Questions? Call 978-623-8430 or email rdesk@mhl.org

If you need more time than our standard three week loan period for books,  ask at the Circulation Desk about getting an extended loan.

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For people with visual impairments

  • Large print books, both fiction and nonfiction, on Level 1
  • New York Times: Large Print, Reader's Digest: Large Edition, on Level 1
  • Audiobooks on CD and Playaway devices on Level 1
  • An Optelec desktop electronic magnifier on Level 1 (donated by Stone Hill at Andover)
  • A handheld magnifier is available at the Reference Desk for use in the library and an Optelec video magnifier is available for checkout
  • Three public computers with JAWS Screen Reader and ZoomText Magnifier/Reader software
  • Large button keyboard available at the Reference Desk, designed to be used with ZoomText

The library also has a small collection of Talking Books from the Perkins Library that anyone can use. These can be played using a Talking Book player (also from Perkins), which can be checked out with your library card. When you are finished with a Talking Book cartridge, you may return it to the library, or you may remove the summary card taped to its case and put the case in the mail, where it will be returned to Perkins.

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For people with hearing impairments

  • DVD films with English subtitles
  • Closed caption DVDs
  • Listen Everywhere technology in Memorial Hall
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For people with limited mobility

  • Ramp at the rear library entrance
  • Automatic door openers at the rear entrance
  • Designated handicapped parking spaces in the rear and side parking lots
  • Wheelchair accessible reference and circulation desks
  • Elevator to all floors of the library
  • Handicapped accessible restrooms on the Lower Level
  • Aisles wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs
  • Wheelchair lift for roof deck access
  • Rollators outside the Children's Room on the Lower Level and near the Circulation Desk on Level 1
  • A wheelchair is available in the Lower Lobby stairwell that can be accessed by a staff member upon request
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Other assistive services

  • Home delivery for homebound individuals: staff select and deliver library materials to Andover residents who have difficulty coming to the library because of age, illness, or temporary or permanent disability. For more information contact Gerry Deyermond 978-623-8421 or email gdeyermond@mhl.org
  • Reference Service in person, by telephone (978-623-8431), or by email (rdesk@mhl.org)
  • Catalog assistance: reference librarians will check the online catalog, check the shelves, place holds and interlibrary loans for individuals whenever the library is open
  • Staff will retrieve materials anywhere in the building.  Just ask!
  • Check out anything in the Children’s Room, on the Lower Level just inside the rear door, to save a trip to Level 1
  • Request that your holds be picked up in the Children's Room
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Books and periodicals for people with disabilities

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Websites on disabilities

Local

Regional

  • Massachusetts Office on Disability: State agency whose primary mission is to assure access to state and local programs, activities, and services for people with disabilities.
  • Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission: State agency responsible for Vocational Rehabilitation Services and eligibility determination for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) federal benefits programs.
  • DisabilityInfo: Index of services and resources for people with disabilities in Massachusetts, searchable by disability or location.
  • New England ADA Center:  Provides information, guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of business, government and individuals at local, regional and national levels.
  • Perkins in Watertown MA:  Organization committed to improving the lives of people with blindness and deafblindness.  Includes Perkins School  for the Blind and the Perkins Library, which circulates items in braille, audio, electronic, and large print formats.
  • Disability Law Center:  Protection and advocacy agency for the rights of Massachusetts residents with disabilities.

National

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