Page contents
- Useful links
- Open Ticket Adult
- Libraries services for those who have a visual impairment
- Library services for those with a hearing impairment
Useful links
- Disabled parking and accessibility at your local library. Find your nearest library.
- Library computers for users with disabilities
- Library Direct Services - for those unable to visit the library themselves
- Dyslexia support in libraries
- Dementia support in libraries
- Library resources for Surrey Additional Needs and Disabilities (SAND)
- Bookshine and Booktouch packs - for babies and pre-schoolers with additional needs
Open Ticket
Our new Open Ticket is for anyone with a short or long term medical condition that has a substantial and negative effect on their day to day life, affecting their ability to:
- Use the printed book stock
- Choose for themselves when to visit the library
- Borrow and return library items
You can also nominate a named contact to do the following:
- Receive pre-overdue, overdue and request notifications on your behalf.
- Borrow and return items on your behalf.
- Renew or reserve items on your behalf, including online with your PIN.
- Act as a guarantor, responsible for payment of any charges incurred.
Note: you can choose all the above or just the appropriate options.
If you would like to register for Open Ticket, please speak to a member of staff in your local Surrey library or contact: libraries@surreycc.gov.uk
Library services for those who have a visual impairment
- Large print books - fiction and non-fiction titles are available for both adults and children.
- Spoken Word/Talking books - CDs are available at most libraries.
- eBooks and eAudiobooks - you can now download these at home for free. The text size of eBooks can be increased.
- Audio Description - some DVDs have this facility, please see individual titles for further information.
- Kurzweil National Federation of the Blind (KNFB) Reader: this is an app which converts printed text to speech by taking a photograph of the text and reading it aloud. The KNFB Reader app will read any printed text and enables people with a visual impairment, or a print impairment such as dyslexia, to access any printed material in the library. KNFB Reader is available at these libraries:
- Assistive Technology - please check what is available on our webpage Library computers for users with disabilities.
- Bookshine packs are for visually impaired children. Packs are available for two age ranges, for babies or pre-school age children. You can ask your health visitor, early years (childcare) setting or library to contact the local Bookstart Coordinator to get one.
If you are interested in any of the above services please contact Surrey Libraries Information Service.
The the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) library
If you are blind or partially sighted, then you are eligible to join the library of the Royal National Institute for the Blind. They can supply material in the following formats:
- Audiobooks by digital download, CD or USB
- Braille
- Newspapers and magazines
- Music Library in accessible format
With over 60,000 items in the collection, the RNIB library is free to join. Find out more by phoning them on 0303 123 9999 or by visiting the RNIB website.
Calibre Audio
Calibre Audio provides a collection of over 15,000 audiobooks for people living with a print disability in the UK and overseas. There is unlimited borrowing on over 15,000 unabridged audiobooks, with over 3,000 specifically aimed at children and young people. You can listen to the audiobooks by streaming, downloading, and by memory stick. Find out more by visiting the Calibre Audio website.
Other sources of help and support
- Look offer mentoring and support to visually impaired children and their families.
- Victa offer support and activities for blind and partially sighted people from birth to 29 years old to build confidence and life skills.
- Struggle to read or hold books due to blindness, visual impairment, physical disability or print blindness? Register for free access to eBooks at Seeing Ear. All titles can be read as Giant Print, braille or with synthetic speech. Search online for 'Seeing Ear' or contact them by email: librarian@seeingear.org.
- Living Paintings offer tactile and braille books for children to learn, read and explore through their free postal library.
- Sight for Surrey is a charitable organisation and support and enable people who are blind, vision impaired, deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing to lead full and independent lives. They provide specialist hands-on practical support tailored to individuals and their family needs.
Library services for those with a hearing impairment
- All libraries are provided with hearing loops. Find your nearest library. If you experience any problems in accessing a hearing loop in a library, please contact us.
- Subtitles and closed captioning are available on some DVDs.
- Booktouch packs are for children with an hearing impairment. Packs are available for two age ranges, for babies or pre-school age children. You can ask your health visitor, early years (childcare) setting or library to contact the local Bookstart Coordinator to get one.
Support from Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council provides information and support on staying independent at home. This includes the Home Equipment Finder where you can find ideas on equipment and smart technology to help you stay well and independent at home.
