A technology donation to the Centre County Library’s Bellefonte branch will help patrons with low vision access library materials.
Thanks to a grant from an anonymous donor, the nonprofit North Central Sight Services donated $10,000 worth of equipment to the library, including desktop and handheld video magnifiers that enable people with low vision to read printed materials.
The magnifiers were unveiled on Monday are now available to any patron of the Bellefonte library.
“We’re thrilled to make these assistive technology devices available to the public at the Bellefonte library,” North Central Sight Services President and CEO Brian Patchett said in a statement. “We hope this donation helps bring awareness to the life-changing benefits of such devices. Assistive technology like these devices helps people who are visually impaired live independently and fully enjoy life.”
The donation includes two desktop video magnifiers, five handheld devices, two high contrast/large print keyboards, one large monitor and a ZoomText magnifying software license.
“As a public library, we aim to make our collections and resources accessible to everyone in our community,” branch manager Nicholas Struble said. “Prior to this generous donation, our offerings for individuals who have low vision were limited to audiobooks and large-print books. Now a world of additional books and other library materials are accessible to them.”
North Central Sight Services also has funding available to provide free or low-cost assistive technology devices directly to individuals in Centre County who have low vision. Individuals should contact the organization at (570) 323-9401 to learn if they are eligible.
Founded in 1957, the nonprofit provides services to fulfill its missions of preventing vision loss through exams and education, helping children and adults adapt to low vision and employing people with low vision.
