Visually impaired people wishing to read, type, and surf the internet can now find comfort in knowing that they are well-catered for at the Randfontein Community Library.
This is through a state-of-the-art computer that is stationed at the premises, which has been brought in to specifically benefit the visually impaired and blind community.
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Programs librarian at Rand West City Libraries Thandeka Legae said the computer was brought in after a service level agreement by the Gauteng Department of Sports Arts Culture and Recreation together with the Gauteng Provincial Libraries and the South African Library for the Blind.
“The mini-libraries for the blind are aimed at providing computer and reading services for the visually impaired and the blind society. The services in question include braille services, voice recorders, and reading services, where users can just scan a book on the magnifying glass attached to the computer and the machine then reads the contents of the book word for word.
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“What this means is that a blind user can take any book in the library and read it using the mini-libraries.
“Through the mini-libraries end-user computing, skills can be imparted to the blind user, equipping him or her with typing, internet surfing, and browsing skills which may be beneficial if you are applying for a job or writing a CV,” said Legae.
She added that the South African Library for the Blind provides the mini-libraries for the blind and also provides user study analysis, as well as user training through their provincial coordinator.
