Do you have a visual impairment which would benefit from the ability to greatly enlarge a document's print size? Or do you just need a little help in reading a document that has small print?
Thanks to a generous and thoughtful College of William & Mary alumna, who wishes to remain anonymous, Swem Library has recently acquired a new machine that helps.
The machine -- a closed-circuit television (CCTV) -- magnifies print to as large as 11 inches high, offers various color-contrast schemes, and provides other tools to make reading much easier.
Located in Swem's reference area, the CCTV can be used by anyone -- to read small print or to discern the details on a map, photograph, or object. The CCTV's features include masking tools to help you focus on one part of a document, the ability to view in positive or negative modes, and 24 color-contrast schemes, such as yellow letters on a blue background. Instructions are posted, and reference librarians will be happy to help you use the machine.
The CCTV is just one of several pieces of equipment we have to help people with disabilities. Others include magnifying glasses, wheelchairs, amplifiers to assist in hearing a conversation in person or on the telephone, and carts to help you gather books and other materials.
Also, the library staff is always willing to help persons with disabilities: we can retrieve materials from our stacks, help with operating photocopiers and other equipment, and more.
For additional information, please visit our Disability Services webpage. -- Mary Molineux
