Whatcom County Library System is committed to providing fair and equal access for all people. Explore the tools and resources available to help patrons access our library buildings and collections.
VISUAL ACCESSIBILITY | PHYSICAL ACCESS | DEAF & HARD OF HEARING PATRONS
OTHER WCLS ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES | ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
VISUAL ACCESSIBILITY
MERLIN VISION ENLARGER
Merlin HD Ultra Enhanced Vision Enlarger (donated by Whatcom Eye Surgeons & Vision Matters): Enlarge text from books and printed material at the Ferndale library. Learn more here.
MICROSOFT NARRATOR
Narrator is a screen-reading app built into Microsoft Windows. It can read and interact with items on the screen. Use Narrator to read and write an e-mail, browse the internet, and work with documents. Learn more here.
WINDOWS DESKTOP MAGNIFIER
Magnifier is also built into Microsoft Windows. Use Magnifier to make items on screen easier to see. Learn more here.
LARGE PRINT BOOK COLLECTION
Browse the WCLS collection of Large Print books here:
Fiction | Nonfiction
READ ALONGS / TALKING BOOKS
Read Alongs are print books with a ready-to-play audiobook inside. Press play and read along with your favorite books. View our collection of Read Alongs here.
PLAYAWAYS
Playaways are single-title devices pre-loaded with a book you can’t wait to read. Just pop in a battery, plug in your headphones and go. Available for readers of all ages, and they couldn’t be easier to use. Check out what’s available on Playaway now!
WASHINGTON TALKING BOOK AND BRAILLE LIBRARY
Washington Talking Book and Braille Library provides library services state-wide, at the library and by mail, to any Washington resident unable to read standard print material due to blindness, visual impairment, DeafBlindness, physical disability (cannot hold a book or turn pages), or reading disability.
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES ON LIBBY eBOOKS
Learn about Libby’s many accessibilities features that will help you access eBooks here.
Features include:
- dyslexic font
- text size
- high contrast
- use with screen readers
- color settings
WCLS BRAILLE BOOKS
Search our catalog for Braille books here.
KANOPY STREAMING SERVICE
use Kanopy’s website and video player with screen reader technologies on desktop browsers, and iOS and Android devices.
PHYSICAL ACCESS
Curbside Pick-up: All WCLS libraries offer either curbside or walk-up holds pickup.
Bookmobile and Homebound Service: Our Homebound Services staff deliver library materials to retirement homes, nursing homes, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities each month as well as to individuals who are permanently homebound. (Unfortunately, we do not have the staff to do home visits for short term stints at home, such as recovery from surgery.) For more information, contact Mobile Services at (360) 305-3599
ADA access and ADA compliant checkout stations in all libraries
Rolling Walkers (Rollators) available at Ferndale, Lynden and Deming branches
DEAF & HARD OF HEARING PATRONS
SVRS nTouch2.0 Video Relay Phone for ASL Signing Patrons
Connect with an ASL Interpreter via the SVRS video phone at the Lynden library. View user’s manual here.
Hearing Loop
Assistive listening technology for use in-library at Ferndale and by request.
Hearing Loops-FAQ – Consumers Advocating for Hearing-Friendly Communities
Free headphones available in branches
Kanopy Streaming Video
Closed captions, subtitles, and transcripts are available on most Kanopy films and documentaries.
OTHER WCLS ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES
Sensory Kits (for in library use only)
Includes noise reduction headphones, glare reducing sunglasses, visual communication cards to support communication, and a tangle fidget toy.
Event accommodations
To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact our ADA Compliance Officer at least 72 hours in advance so that we may make any needed accommodations. Phone 360-305-3603, or email ADA@wcls.org.
Private study rooms
Library meeting and conference rooms available when they are available. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis and may be made no more than 16 weeks in advance
Light therapy lamps
The DAXING therapy light releases 10,000 Lux intensity natural sunlight, feel the sunshine even on rainy days, UV-free and non-invasive.
Interlibrary loan (for large print, audiobooks, and other items not held in WCLS collection)
We do our best to fulfill all requests, either by purchasing items or borrowing them from another library via interlibrary loan.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES