Local library services for vision impaired.

Funds donated or granted by the Mumbulla Foundation, Friends of the Libraries, Rotary, and Robin Hood Service Clubs, have made possible new Bega Valley Shire Library services for borrowers with low vision. These services add to the existing audio tapes and books on CD.  Four devices are currently available at both Bega and Merimbula libraries. In time they will be available in Bermagui.

Borrowers without good vision can now borrow an Audio Navigator© - a computerised device something like an iPod© in size but which plays audio books rather than music. It reads books straight into the user’s home speakers, ear phones or car stereo system.

A borrower simply selects the book of choice from a catalogue of titles currently available from Bega or Merimbula. The chosen book is then loaded onto the device at the library, and the device is then borrowed in the normal fashion at the circulation desk.

Bega Valley Friends of the Libraries, Inc. initiated the introduction of the Navigators to the Shire’s library services and are seeking local donors to help purchase additional Navigators so that borrowers in the northern area of the shire can benefit. Each device costs $600.

Anyone considering contributing all or part of the cost of a Navigator, or the cost of new book titles, is invited to contact Helen of the Bega Valley Friends through the Contact Us page.

For more information about the service itself phone Ros at the Bega Library on 6499 2127.

At the moment, because there are only eight Navigators in the library system, their use is restricted to borrowers with low vision. However, their potential use is enormous, for example, for reluctant teenage readers and as soon as more are available the use restrictions will be lifted.