http://www.readingsight.org.uk/content/buildings_equipment/ Reading Sight provides information and advice to library staff to help them provide a better service to people with sight loss en Reading Sight Copyright 2011 2011-09-20T11:24:30+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/magnifiers/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/magnifiers/#When:13:42:58Z Magnifiers come in different strengths and sizes but it’s a myth that a big lens is a strong lens. In fact, the bigger the size of the magnifier lens, the weaker it’ll be. More powerful magnifiers are small, and have to be held close to the eye and the object.Hand-held magnifiersStrengths vary from 1.5 to 11 times, and some have a battery operated light. These might not be suitable for readers with weaker hands.Stand magnifiersMounted on stands and sit on the page to be viewed. These magnifiers need to be kept flat on the page and can be moved across the page to see each line. They’re useful for reading and writing for readers with weaker hands. They come in different shapes and sizes, and are available in strengths from 2 to 20 times. Pocket magnifiersThese are small hand-held magnifiers with strengths ranging from 2 to 15 times. Some are fitted with lights, and others are designed to fold up. 2010-05-04T13:42:58+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/website_accessibility/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/website_accessibility/#When:12:56:52Z 2009-07-08T12:56:52+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/website_accessibility/colour_contrast/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/website_accessibility/colour_contrast/#When:19:40:30Z Certain eye conditions can make it difficult to perceive colour. This can make reading difficult when colours of text and background in a document are poorly contrasted.  Proper use of colour can really improve the readability of a document for people with sight loss.Basic techniquesHigh contrast must be provided between text and background colours. Pale blues and grey will not be easy to read on white backgrounds but dark blues, black or reds will.Colour blindness affects the way that certain colours differ from others. Red and green, for instance, can appear to be virtually the same to some users. Ensure that you choose colours that have a good differentiation for people with colour deficiency. Images must also have good contrast, especially if there is text on the image. Always check that logos are high contrast and tag lines within logos are readable.Bold and large fonts can sometimes compensate for poor colour contrastBackground images can sometimes interfere with the legibility of text. Watermarks or patterns can be problematic so where possible avoid them, or ensure they are either not behind text or that they do not interfere with its legibility. Useful resourcesEffective colour contrast by Lighthouse InternationalRNIB information on good colour contrast 2009-07-07T19:40:30+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/video_magnifiers_cctv/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/video_magnifiers_cctv/#When:21:30:01Z What is a video magnifier?A CCTV or video magnifier is a simple way of producing large text, images and maps for people with some useful vision. Printed material and objects can be placed under a camera and the magnified image is displayed on a television screen or computer monitor. Video Magnifiers are not a replacement for hand magnifiers, but do have real advantages for some tasks. These include the ability to vary magnification levels, to get very high levels of magnification, to get a comfortable reading distance, and to vary reading distance. Many people find they can read more comfortably and therefore for longer periods with a video magnifier than with a hand magnifier. While there is not absolute way of knowing whether a video magnifier will help a particular individual without them trying one for themselves, as a general guide if someone can read the largest banner headlines in a newspaper then a video magnifier is likely to be of use to them.The video magnifier image can be black and white or full colour. Many black and white systems offer the option of switching the foreground and background colours between dark text on a light background and light text on a dark background (reversing polarity). In addition they may offer a choice of foreground and background colours. As well as the default choice of colour image view, most colour image video magnifiers offer a choice of foreground and background colours, and mono view.Desktop video magnifiersThe most common type of video magnifier is intended for desktop user. Most desktop video magnifiers have a camera, which is in a fixed position some distance above the desktop. The printed material is placed on the reading table, which can be moved left to right and backwards and forwards.The image is viewed on an integrated monitor and can be adjusted for contrast, magnification and colour to suit the user. A few desktop video magnifiers have a camera on an anglepoise type stem, instead so there is some flexibility of position. Desktop magnifiers can offer a magnification range as low as 1.5 times and as high as 60 times, although the range is usually narrower than this.Portable video magnifiersPortable CCTVs, intended for the more mobile user, are being developed all the time. In some cases, the camera unit is portable, but a standard monitor/TV screen is required to display the image, in other cases the CCTV may have it’s own small integrated viewing screen or may be connected to a laptop. Most portable video magnifiers, and many video magnifiers that use a television, have a hand-held camera similar to a computer mouse.The camera is placed directly on the page, or other object such as a medicine bottle, and moved across it to read the material underneath. There are a few video magnifiers with other camera and display options. A head mounted camera exists, and there is a portable video magnifier where the user wears a pair of spectacles on which the image is displayed.Some portable units have fixed magnification levels, whilst others offer full user control, although the range of magnification on portable units is more limited than a desktop CCTV.Pocket video magnifiersThese are pocket or handbag sized CCTVs designed for you to carry around with you at all times. They are useful for reading labels in shops, notices, bills, menus and magazines whilst travelling. They have a 10cm integrated screen and are available at up to 5x or 7x magnification depending on the product. Magnification is increased by moving the CCTV closer to the object. Video magnifiers that plug into a televisionVideo magnifiers that plug into a television tend to be cheaper than other options as you buy only the camera. This is of course assuming you already have the television and are prepared for it to be used at times for video magnification. CCTVs that display the image on a television are usually in the form of a handheld camera that rests on the paper and then moves across the paper or object, or it may look like a lamp that can be angled to sit above the document. The magnification range for these cameras tends to be more limited and sometimes depend on the size of television that the image is displayed on. Many of these units are portable.PC sharing video magnifiersA few video magnifier systems will link to a PC, allowing the screen image to be shared between the video magnifier picture and the computer display. These video magnifiers are often referred to as “screen sharing” or “split-screen” video magnifiers. 2009-07-04T21:30:01+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/adapting_a_computer_for_blind_users/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/adapting_a_computer_for_blind_users/#When:21:24:43Z Screen reading softwareScreen reading software allows a blind person to use a computer by providing spoken descriptions and full keyboard control. The computer can be controlled with keyboard shortcuts instead of a mouse. Screen readers can allow access to: computer menus, web pages, office software and email. Some blind people also use a screen reader with a braille display.Screen readers can provide spoken description of:the full screena user defined area of the screena line, word or individual letterscapital letters, punctuation and symbolscomputer system messagesText-to-speech programsA screen reader differs from a text-to-speech program in its flexibility and price. While text-to-speech programs are cheaper, they are restricted in what they allow to be read back from the screen and may not provide complete access to a PC for a blind user. This is because they were not originally designed for people with sight problems, but for users with dyslexia or learning difficulties. Because of this navigation around the computer using speech only without any useful vision may not be possible. Different text-to-speech programs will also vary between each other in what features they can offer.Braille displaysAn electronic braille display is a tactile device that is placed under a conventional computer keyboard, which enables the user to read the contents of the computer screen, by touch in braille. They are also known as paperless, soft or refreshable braille displays and vary in size from 20 to 80 braille cells.Each cell has 6 or 8 pins made of metal or nylon, which are electronically controlled to move up and down, to display a braille version of characters that appear on the computer screen. Braille displays are driven by a screen reader, as described earlier in this information sheet.Each braille cell shows one character from the screen at a time, which gives the users access to approximately one line of the screen on an 80 cell braille display using grade 1 braille. The displays are designed with buttons and/or bars to enable the user to roam around the screen, reading whichever part they wish. On many displays these buttons can be customised to suit the users needs. These features reduce the need to move the hands from the display to the keyboard.All displays now have at least one row of touch cursors, these are tiny buttons, one for each braille cell. Their function is crucial - if you move away from the PC cursor to read the rest of the screen with your braille display these tiny buttons allow you to bring the PC cursor to the area of the screen that you are reading with your braille display e.g. to edit that character or word.Braille can provide layout information more efficiently and using a braille display is described by users as being more accurate. A spelling mistake, for example, is more obvious on a braille display than hearing mispronunciation amongst a lot of speech. It is sometimes said that speech is for speed and braille is for accuracy. For many people braille is their natural way of working and is an essential medium for deafblind people. 2009-07-04T21:24:43+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/adapting_a_computer_for_low_vision_users/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/adapting_a_computer_for_low_vision_users/#When:20:50:49Z Magnifying the computer screenA computer screen is easy to customize to suit individual preferences and offers extensive control over presentation of text size, style and colour. This enables the user to select the most comfortable colour background, text colour and typeface. The operating system and other software on the computer also provides other opportunities for customisation.The mouse pointer, for example, can sometimes be difficult to see for someone with sight problems. There are features within the operating system of a computer which enables the user to slow down the pointer or increase the size. If the accessibility features of operating system aren’t enough other specialist software is available to enlarge the text, menus and icons on the screen.Customising the operating systemThe most common operating system is Microsoft Windows, either Vista or the older but still common XP version. There are several screen enhancement features integrated within Windows. These can be altered to improve visibility for partially sighted people. These features include pre-set high contrast colour schemes, larger standard fonts, modifying the screen resolution and improvements to the visibility of the mouse pointer and cursors. Some of these options can be modified using the control panel on your computer.Enhancing the mouse pointerThe mouse pointer can often be difficult to see, which provides additional difficulties. There are however utilities available which can customise the mouse pointer to the users preference. Options may include:larger pointerscolour pointersinteresting shapes or animated pointersmouse trails which leave multiple images on the screen to highlight the movement of the mousea locator which gives a visual indicator of the position of the mousefeatures which can automatically move the mouse pointer on the screen to a default button.Screen magnification softwareBecause screen magnification software increases the size of the image displayed on the screen, only a portion of the original screen image can be seen at one time. Normally, the screen magnification will automatically follow the focus of attention, so that the area around the cursor, mouse pointer or highlighted menu item is magnified. Moving the magnified window in order to view other parts of the original screen image is done by using the mouse. Some screen magnification programs now provide supportive speech output as well. The contents of Word documents, menu items and icons are usually spoken using the computer’s sound.Other features that may be available in a magnification package may include:Smoothing jagged edges of characters at higher magnificationsAltering the colour of text, foreground and backgroundChanging the size and appearance of the mouse pointer and cursorsUsing different sizes and shapes of magnified windowsContinuously magnifying a particular area of the screenCustomising which on-screen events are tracked by the magnified window, and which are not.Adapting the screenFresnel lensFresnel lenses are plastic sheets that can be placed in front of the computer screen, and offer small levels of magnification. However optical quality is poor compared with the sort of magnifiers commonly used to access print. The same magnifying effect may be achieved simply by moving closer to the computer monitor.Anti-glare screen filtersGlare from a computer screen can be prevented by repositioning the screen so light from a window or from an overhead light does not reflect onto the screen. High quality anti-glare filters for computer screens may help, as long as the contrast or the brightness of the screen is not compromised. These are standard office items, but attention should be paid to the type and quality of filter if it is to be used by a partially sighted person.Making the keyboard easier to seeKeytop stickers / keyboard gloveKeytop stickers are self-adhesive stickers, which can be stuck onto individual keys on the computer keyboard. The lettering on the stickers is large and printed in a bolded typeface with black lettering on a yellow background, white lettering on a black background or black lettering on a white background. Large print flexible keyboard gloves which fits over any make of keyboard are also available in the same colour options as the stickers.Large print keyboardsThere are two large print keyboards available. There is a standard size keyboard available with large print on the keys, which is 400% larger letters compared to standard keyboards. The keyboards are available in black letters with white or yellow background and white letters with black background. 2009-07-04T20:50:49+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/adapting_the_library_building_for_accessibility-2/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/adapting_the_library_building_for_accessibility-2/#When:10:43:50Z Based on: Design and adaptation of libraries and services (Best Practice Manual) by Dr. Gillian BurringtonIntroductionLibraries which are physically accessible and sensitive to the needs of people with sight problems will also be more accessible and easy to use for everyone else. Moreover, people with severe sight problems are more likely to come to an accessible library where they feel they have a chance of selecting material for themselves rather than relying on an intermediary.Many of the accessibility features mentioned on this chapter can be achieved at no extra cost.  Having suitable colour contrast (which need not be garish or ugly) is one easy and cost-effective way to improve access for people with sight problems. The points below should also be used when briefing architects or designers, who should be persuaded (if they are not already) that access and aesthetics are equally important in good design.Where major refurbishment is planned it can be sensible to have an access audit carried out by an organisation which specialises in disability, and who will also work with designers and architects to ensure that best practice in physical access is achieved.The approach to the librarySet-down points, parking, bus-stops etc. should be less than 50 metres (and ideally no more than 20) from the main entrance. There should be a high-contrast signpost to the entrance from drop-off or parking point.Pathways should be even and in good condition. They should be well-lit. Large open areas should have tactile directional guidance paving, as indicated in the Building Regulations.Ramps help many blind and partially sighted people as much as they help people with impaired mobility. BS 8300 gives detailed information about the requirements of ramps of different lengths and styles. Most ramps need hand rails at both sides at a minimum of 900mm and a maximum of 1000mm high. There should also be a safety kerb of 100mm on the edge of the ramp itself, so that white canes (or wheels) do not slip off. A secondary rail at 600mm should be provided for children’s safety. Handrails should be in a colour which contrasts with the immediate surroundings, should extend at least 300mm beyond the start and finish of the ramp and follow the rise and landings. They should also be comfortable and easy to grip.Ramps should be shallow enough for easy ascent and have landings at their head and foot. These should be at least as wide as the ramp, and a minimum of 1200mm long clear of any door swing or obstruction. No single length of a ramp should be longer than 10 metres, or have arise of more than 500mm. Intermediate landings should be 1500mm long. The maximum permitted gradient of 1 in 12, needs a landing every 2 metres. The minimum surface width of a ramp should be 1200mm. The surface should be non-slip and have good drainage.Entering the libraryEntrance doors should be clearly visible and should have 1500 x 1500mm circulation space at each side. They should be clearly differentiated from their surround. Solid doors should be painted in a colour which contrasts with their frame and surroundings. Glass doors should have a solid frame and need a visible etched band between 900 and 1500mm above finished floor level (FFL). A lower band at 600mm helps blind and partially sighted children.If entrance doors do not open automatically they should be clearly marked with “push” or “pull” in high contrast to the surrounding area. Door handles should also contrast well with the main door colour. Doors should be balanced in such a way as to open easily.If doors are fitted with an automatic closing device, these should not be so strong as to cause problems for people with sight loss or those who move slowly.Power operated (automatic) doors are of two types:a)  Manually operated by pressing a control button. If these are used the control panel should contrast well with its surroundings.b)  Operated by a sensor which detects heat or movement. These benefit from some sound indication that they are opening or closing.Revolving doors - even the large power operated type - are as inaccessible for people with sight loss as for wheelchair users, so should either be changed or have an adjacent side-hung door which can be used as an alternative.Where a threshold to protect against weather is essential, this should be as low as feasible, and in a colour which contrasts with the surrounding pathway.Inside the libraryThe issue or reception counter should be easy for people with sight loss to find, either by being close to the entrance, or well-signposted.Lighting is important to all but the 4% of people with sight loss who have no light perception. The greater the light reflectance value of the dominant surrounding colours, the more effective the lighting will be. Key points about light include:Evenness of level of lighting is helpful to older and people with sight loss. Standard fluorescent tubes with diffusers, or halogen bulbs (which should not shine directly into anyone’s eyes) should give an overall even level of lighting and will be satisfactory for most people with severe sight problems. It is important to avoid having some dim and some well-lit areas, so any missing or failed lamps should always be replaced immediately. Some fluorescent lights can interfere with hearing aids. Additional lighting for particular areas should be directed at the material being lit (e.g. a display) only, and not into anyone’s eyes. Lighting inside display cases should shine downwards and the lamps should be concealed.Colour and colour contrast are key features of designing an environment which will be helpful to people with sight loss. Contrast does not have to be garish. Contrast comes from tone and depth of pigment. People with sight loss use colour change as their main means of orientation. Colour contrast is therefore also an important safety feature.The ICI Design Guide for the use of colour and contrast (ICI, 1997) gives detailed information about the way people use colour, and gives tables for both monochrome and contrasting colour schemes which are based on their Dulux range. What the eye sees as colour is a combination of the proportions of hue, light reflectance value, and chroma or depth of pigment. It is therefore possible to have good contrast between different shades and depth of the same colour.Horizontal circulationEntrance mats should be flush with the main floor surface so as not to be a hazard (or impede wheelchair users, who have additional requirements about mats). Corduroy-style mats are recommended.Floor covering should be non-slip and low-friction (non-grip). The best floor covering for motor impaired, hearing impaired and people with sight loss is high density, low pile carpet with no strong directional weave.Keep the floor-covering in good condition, as even small tears or uneven joins can be a hazard for people with sight problems.Flarepaths, indicating direction, should contrast with the surrounding floor-covering in colour and ideally in texture as well.All circulation routes should be kept free of permanent or temporary hazards, such as plant pots, rubbish bins or piles of books etc. Nor should such objects be places adjacent to doorways, lifts or stairs.Furniture should contrast with floors and walls. Where possible furniture should have solid sides or rails within a range of 75-100mm from finished floor level so it can be located by someone using a white cane. Such rails should not be used at the seating area of tables as they will impede wheelchair users. Furniture should be kept clear of the main circulation route.Shelving should ideally, according to the revised recommendations, fall within the optimum viewing band of 850-1750mm FFL, if it is to help most people with sight loss. However, this conflicts with the needs of wheelchair users whose extended reach is in the range of 650-1150mm. It is therefore more important that guiding is clear (see 12.9.2), and that staffing levels allow time for help to be given if it is needed.Wall-mounted furniture should not project more than 100mm from the wall, and need a hazard warning in the form of a kerb or barrier which can be detected by someone using a mobility cane if they are located adjacent to a circulation route or on a corridor.Displays should be inset so they are level with the surrounding wall surface, or they should be in clearly visible display cases which contrast with the adjacent wall and floor covering. If they are glazed it should be with non-reflective glass.Signage and guiding should be in mixed case as it is more difficult to read anything which is in written only in capitals. Mixed case allows people who do not see clearly, to recognise the broad shapes of words, even if they have difficulty identifying individual characters. A plain typeface like this one (Arial) is easier to read than one with serifs, such as Times New Roman. Helvetica medium, Futura and Avant Garde are also recommended in BS 8300. It should have good colour contrast with the background, be of adequate size and thickness, and be of non-reflective material. Laminating signs and notices causes reflection from lights and windows which makes them more difficult for everyone to read.In large buildings, consideration should be given to having a tactile map of the building near the entrance. Local authority/HE establishment Access Officers, where appointed, or local societies for people with sight loss, can provide advice on what signage is needed and where it should be positioned to be of maximum benefit.Guiding on the end of bays should be within the range of 1200-1700mm FFL. BS 8300 recommends that it should have an “x” (lower case) height of at least 30mm. Guiding on the top of bays should have an “x” height of at least 40mm. The shelf guiding at 1200mm above FFL which is recommended for wheelchair users also helps people with sight loss, as long as it uses high contrast with the surrounding shelves, as it gives a standard orientation point.Vertical circulationLiftsLifts provide the best and safest means of vertical circulation. They should stop level with the floor. Control buttons should be horizontal, at 900-1100mm above FFL and should have Braille as well as Arabic floor numbers. Voice floor and door announcements are recommended. The Building Regulations guidance for wheelchair access to lifts also helps people with sight loss.Mirrors at the back of lift cages should be clearly etched or in sections with a contrasting band between, so people with severe sight problems do not mistake their reflection for someone leaving the lift and stand back whilst the doors close against them.Lift doors should be timed to remain open for 20-25 seconds.StairsStairs should be at a 90 degrees angle to the main circulation route. The area under the stairs should be enclosed so as not to constitute a hazard to people with sight loss.Circulation space should be 1500 x 1500mm at the top and bottom of the stairs. This space should be covered with the half-rod shaped profile in corduroy or other firm material as is required by Building Regulations Part M.Stair treads. Open treads are dangerous, so treads should be enclosed. For the same reason the maximum overhang of each tread over the next should be 25mm. Treads should be a minimum of 1000mm wide and 280mm from front to back. Ideally the rise should be within the range of 150 to 170mm, but the maximum rise normally permitted is 170mm. Contrasting coloured nosings at the edge of each tread make stairs safer for everyone. They must be flush with the rest of each step.Handrails are essential. They should be fitted at both sides and be at 900-1000mm above the stair profile. They should be of 45-50mm thickness, continuous, and follow the rise of the stairs. They should finish at least 300mm beyond the top and bottom step, and ideally 500mm. Stairs wider than 1800mm or more need a central handrail as well. The rails should contrast with the colour of the carpet and adjacent walls. If the staircase is not enclosed in a stairwell, transparent side-panels provide the best protection. An additional rail at 450 to 550mm above FFL makes stairs easier for visually impaired children.A diagram showing how stairs in a library should be designed.RampsInternal ramps are helpful to people with severe sight problems. Ramps which rise above 600mm should have protective rails. Long ramps should have side protection in the same way as external ramps, and as they will also be helping wheelchair users, protective sides should be transparent but with an etched pattern so they are visible.Key documentsBS 8300. (2001). Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people. British Standards Institute.Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. (1999). The Building Regulations 1991. Approved Document M: access and facilities for disabled people. Stationery Office. 1999 edition. (The government has indicated that the next edition of Part M will incorporate the standards set out in BS 8300).RNIB. (1997). Clearprint guidelines. London: RNIB.ICI. (1997). Design guide to the use of colour and contrast to improve the built environment for people with sight loss. ICI. 2009-07-04T10:43:50+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_library/#When:09:49:58Z The joy of creating a brand new library building is a fairly rare occurrence. When it happens, there is the opportunity to work with architects and designers to ensure that the needs of sight impaired people are addressed as an integral part of the project.In most cases, we are dealing with existing buildings and limited budgets. Where refurbishments or refits are taking place it is possible to include the needs of sight impaired people in the project brief. Where there is scheduled maintenance, for example the replacement of light fittings, there is an opportunity to think about how this could lead to an enhancement for people with sight loss.  In some cases the service may be responding to the needs expressed by an individual user where a fairly minor adjustment would make all the difference to their experience of the library.No one imagines that the world can change overnight. Some progress is pragmatic and opportunistic - it’s still progress! Please use the Forum to tell us about any improvements you have been able to make in your buildings, especially where they have been small scale and low budget so that we can all see what is realistic for everyone to achieve. 2009-05-29T09:49:58+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/adapting_your_equipment/#When:09:49:30Z Access technology makes it possible for people with sight loss to use everyday technology and get access to information and reading. The main types of access technology are:Screen reading software -  sends screen text displayed on the screen to be spoken by a speech synthesizer. Screen magnification software – magnifies the text, menus and icons on the computer screen.Standalone reading machine – a device that integrates a scanner, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Software and speech software. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software - used in conjunction with a PC and scanner to copy printed text to the computer and hold it electronically so it can be read by a screen reader or magnified with software.Braille embosser or braille printer - embossers print braille output from a computer by punching dots onto paper. Notetakers - a portable computer with a braille or QWERTY keyboard that gives speech feedback and allows the user to take notes.Closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) or video magnifiers - printed material and objects can be placed under a camera and the magnified image is displayed on a television screen or computer monitor. Braille display - a tactile device that is placed under a conventional computer keyboard, or laptop keyboard and enables the user to read the contents of the computer screen by touch in braille.Voice recognition software - an alternative to typing text into a computer allowing the user to control the computer and type by speech. 2009-05-29T09:49:30+00:00 http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/ http://www.readingsight.org.uk/buildings_equipment/#When:10:21:15Z The library environment - buildings, layout and design - are important aspects of the visitor experience. Library services are working hard to improve old buildings and design new ones that have high impact and project the image of a contemporary service. Good design is accessible design; ensuring that the physical environment is accessible and inclusive for disabled people does not require us to compromise design values. Indeed some of the things that would enhance the experience for people with sight loss, for example the removal of obstacles such as waste bins and piles of books, make libraries better places for everyone!The need for compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) has tended to focus on the need to remove physical barriers to buildings. These adjustments are often helpful to people with sight loss as well as wheelchair users. Other aspects of the building, especially clear routes through the spaces and lighting levels, are also vitally important for making it easy for making? visits to the library for sight impaired people safe and enjoyable. Provision of computers is now the norm for libraries. There are now many ways to ensure that both hardware and software is accessible for sight impaired users. This section of Reading Sight is aimed at providing practical guidance on making buildings and equipment accessible so that libraries can be a joy to use for sight impaired people. 2009-03-26T10:21:15+00:00