Rodman Public Library - News

LIBRARY OFFERS ADA COMPUTER WORKSTATION

Thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of Rodman Library, the Library is now able to make available an Internet/computer workstation that meets the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is located in the Reference Dept. area of the Main Library at 215 E. Broadway Street.

A second ADA computer workstation is available at the Carnation Mall Branch. It was purchased with funds provided by Quota International of Alliance. 

The carrel is wide enough and with a counter appropriately high to accommodate anyone using a wheelchair. For those with low vision, the 19-inch monitor with high image contrast makes text and graphics appear both large and crisply defined. Additionally, the screen display can be adjusted to produce visual print in three sizes: regular, large, and extra large. These features, together with the larger icons, make access to the Internet easier and more productive.

High quality headphones with adjustable volume can be plugged into the speakers for patrons with hearing difficulties. Further, the speaking Web browser with an adjustable speech rate can read the text of a Web page to the user. This feature can be quite helpful not only to someone with hearing issues, but also to a patron who is blind, or has very low vision, or has a learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Finally, the pointing device, which enables the user to pursue links or make other selections from the display, is a large rolling trackball, rather than the familiar mouse, touchpad, or small trackball. Fitting comfortably beneath the hand, it offers ease of use even when dexterity is an issue.

Definitely not a stripped-down set-up, the ADA workstation is fully equipped with both Internet access and all of the stand-alone programs available on the other public computer terminals. Because this workstation is for the exclusive use of patrons whose needs fall under the ADA, it becomes operational only when a patron requests its use. At that time, the headphones and trackball are made available, and a Reference Dept. staff member will walk first-time users through the simple process of getting everything properly attached and ready to use.

For further information call
Rodman Public Library
(330) 821-2665