Here at Anne Arundel County Public Library, our mission is "to educate, to enrich, and to inspire all members of the community", and this includes our customers with various accessibility needs.
To ensure optimal service to everyone who comes through our doors, whether in person or online, we consistently ask ourselves whether any given resource we offer has barriers to accessibility. If so, we strive to provide options that eliminate such barriers. Below are just a few examples of how AACPL prioritizes accessibility:
Library by Mail
Free home delivery of library material to any resident of Anne Arundel County, MD who is homebound due to illness, injury, or disability. Includes personalized service that is tailored to the needs and preferences of each customer.
Computer Accessibility in our 16 Locations
One computer in each branch is wheelchair accessible. All public computers are equipped with Windows Narrator screen reader software, and Windows Magnifier text-enlarging software. Additionally, ADA Accessible workstations are available at Broadneck, Eastport-Annapolis Neck, Edgewater, Severna Park, and Glen Burnie libraries, thanks to a grant generously provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Maryland State Library, in partnership with the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (which includes free service by mail for eligible print handicapped individuals.
Visual and Auditory Impairment Aids
For library users with visual impairment, AACPL offers collections of large print materials at each of our library locations. Customers can browse and place holds on these offerings via our online catalog.
To serve our customers with auditory impairment, AACPL offers sign language interpreters for library-sponsored programs by request. The request form must be completed at least one week prior to the event date. We also partner with the Deaf Culture Digital Library to offer a robust collection of resources and assistance related to deaf culture.
Website Accessibility
We seek to place accessibility front and center in our library procurement practices and as we design or curate digital resources, in accordance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Reading/Study Aids
C-Pen Reader Pens, which read text aloud for users with reading challenges are available to borrow from our libraries.
Dementia Friendly Library
Staff at all AACPL locations have completed training to increase their awareness of the issues that customers with dementia and their caregivers may face and how best to serve those individuals. We also offer regularly scheduled Virtual Dementia Live Workshops, open to anyone seeking a hands-on experience of the challenges of dementia.
Check out our Library Accessibility page for further details on how AACPL is working to ensure everyone can enjoy what we have to offer.