As our population ages, one of the most important parts of the Thunder Bay Public Library will be to provide service to those who cannot visit or use the library in the traditional sense. Our current long term program Home Service is designed to deliver books or audio-materials to seniors, as well as those with mobility issues or long-term illness. Home Service is provided through the Brodie and Waverley branches, which select and deliver materials. Volunteers or family members bring items to patrons in either their own homes or care facilities. Materials covered under Home Service include regular books, large print books, magazines and audio-book materials in CD, playaway or Mp3 formats. We also deliver musical CDs. Unfortunately, DVD movies are not included due to the short loan period of these items.
Our virtual resource database Overdrive can be used to download content on to a regular computer or portable device, and provide access to a multitude of eBooks and e-audiobooks . Hoopla is a relatively new addition to our selection of online services and includes movies, television series, music and audio-books. Home Service is limited to those who require special help but Overdrive and Hoopla are available to all our patrons.
Recently, Thunder Bay Public Library is proud to have become a member library of CELA, the Centre for Equitable Library Access which offers a free online service for print disabled Canadians. Whether it is vision loss, a physical disability or a serious reading disability, CELA can provide access to over 300,000 titles. Accessible formats can be downloaded directly or mailed to the participant. As an access point, we are able to register patrons who qualify with registration services and can provide information for those with questions about CELA. Content from CELA includes books, movies, periodicals and children’s literature. Clients may choose the format that is right for them, including Braille, audio, described videos and e-text. CELA’s collection of accessible eBooks can be read with computers, tablets, smartphones or using Braille displays.
CELA itself has entered into a partnership with US-based Bookshare. By registering for CELA membership, clients have access free of charge to Bookshare, which in the US charges members for access to the hundreds of thousands to titles that they have available. Print-disabled patrons of member Canadian public libraries who register can enjoy unlimited downloads of Bookshare titles with no expiration dates, and also have access to free reading technologies and apps. Both CELA and Bookshare encourage clients of all ages by providing a wide range of materials at many different reading levels.
Further information can be found on the tbpl.ca website or for specific information about Home Service, CELA or Bookshare please contact Andrew in the Northward at 807-345-8275, ext. 6821 or for service in the Southward, call Lori at 807-345-8275, ext. 7259. To use Overdrive or Hoopla, there are excellent instructions on our website, and personal sessions for those that may require more assistance.
For general information or to browse the selections, check out www.celalibrary.ca.
Lori Kauzlarick
The "@ Your Library" Column appears in the Sunday edition of the Chronicle Journal newspaper. The Column is written by staff at the Thunder Bay Public Library. Library staff also write for other publications, and those columns will occasionally be posted here as well. This blog helps us share our writing with a broader audience, and provides our readers with a forum for feedback. We welcome your comments!
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