The branch libraries and other facilities of the Prince George's
County Memorial Library System are accessible to all persons.
The information on this site is designed to inform the public
of resources to facilitate use of the Library by persons with
disabilities, their families, and care givers. Listed below are
the equipment, collections, and services that are available. If
you have a question about a library service for persons with disabilities,
please contact the Office of Public Services (301-699-3500 x 239).
All branches and facilities in the Prince George's County Memorial
Library System are accessible to persons with disabilities. With
the exception of the facilities listed below, the main entrance
is physically accessible to persons with disabilities.
Hyattsville Branch (6530 Adelphi
Road, Hyattsville, MD)
Enter the building on the lower level, which is on grade with
the branch parking lot. An elevator connects the lower and upper
levels.
Administrative Offices (6532
Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD)
After 10:00 am, enter the facility via the Hyattsville Branch
on the lower level. Proceed to the elevator beyond the Check Out
Desk.
As an alternative to entering via the Hyattsville Branch, call
301-699-3500 (8:30 am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday) to arrange
for entrance to the elevator on the lower level of the Administrative
Offices.
Largo-Kettering Branch (5601 Capital
Lane, Largo, MD)
The accessible entrance is located at the south side of the building,
i.e. the far right of the main entrance.
Books on tape and on CD, including most in an unabridged format,
are available at all branches in all age-levels. Collection sizes
vary according to the size of the facility. Books on tape and
on CD may be obtained via telephone requests and are eligible
for formal holds at no charge.
Large print books are available throughout the Prince George's
County Memorial Library System. The Bowie, Greenbelt, Hyattsville,
Laurel, New Carrollton, Oxon Hill and Surratts-Clinton Branches
have permanent collections of large print books and magazines;
Accokeek, Baden, Beltsville, Bladensburg, Fairmount Heights, Glenarden,
Hillcrest Heights, Largo-Kettering, Mt. Rainier, Spauldings, and
Upper Marlboro Branches provide rotating collections of large
print books. Large print books may be obtained via telephone requests
and are eligible for formal holds at no charge.
Text enlargement software is installed on a public access computer
for use by persons with limited vision in the following branch
libraries: Beltsville, Bowie, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Laurel,
New Carrollton, Oxon Hill and Surratts-Clinton.
A video magnifier, also known as a closed circuit television system or CCTV, is now available for the public at the New Carrollton Branch Library. CCTVs are some of the more sophisticated and powerful magnifying tools available to people with low vision; they may be necessary for some tasks when a hand-held or stand magnifier will not work. The video magnifier consists of a video camera connected to a monitor.
Most branch libraries have hand-held magnifiers for use by customers
upon request. Requests should be made at the Information Desk.
Copy machines with enlargement capability are available in all
branches except Accokeek and Baden.
A Visualtek machine, which magnifies print, whether from a single
page or another print source such as a book or magazine, is available
at the Hyattsville Branch.
Descriptive videos contain audio descriptions of visual elements
of movies for persons with visual impairments or blindness. Descriptive
videos are available from the Audio-Visual Department for delivery
to any branch facility.
A communications system employed by the Library connects TTY
callers as well as callers who have access to computers equipped
with standard modems and basic communications software with the
Library System. The TTY system provides direct person-to-person
telephone communications between all branches in the Library System
and users of the Library who are deaf or have a speech and/or
hearing impairment. The single number to reach all branches is
301-808-2061.
ASL Access is a collection of over 200 videos featuring American
Sign Language (ASL). The Collection offers a diverse sampling
of ASL lessons, along with ASL literature, information, and entertainment.
The videos are located in the Audio-Visual (A-V) Department and
may be requested for delivery to any branch by calling A-V at
301-985-4690 or 301-808-2061 (TTY).
Several thousand closed captioned videos are available in library
branches and through the Audio-Visual (A-V) Department. Videos
not available in a branch may be requested via telephone from
the A-V Department for delivery to any branch facility. (All entertainment
videos are subject to a rental fee of $2.00 + 5% tax for a two-day
loan period.) To determine if a video is closed captioned, check
the original box for a symbol in the form of a box with a tail
or the letters "CC". To find closed-captioned videos
in the Library Catalog, use the words "closed captioned"
in a Simple Keyword Search/All words.
PGCMLS provides interpreting services (American Sign Language)
for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing for Library-sponsored
programs and events. It is preferable that requests for the service
be made at least one week in advance. Call 301- 808-2061 (TTY)
or the branch library where the event or program is taking place
to place a request for the service.
Audio loops are available in the Oxon Hill and Hyattsville meeting
rooms for use by persons who are hard of hearing.
Library materials are provided through this service to residents of nursing homes and retirement centers. Arrangements are made through Senior and Homebound Services, located at the Largo-Kettering Branch (202-812-1672).
Library materials are delivered by volunteers to qualifying customers.
To apply for the service, call Senior and Homebound Services,
located at the Largo-Kettering Branch (202-812-1672).
The Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc., provides
free reading and information services for blind, visually impaired
and physically disabled people who cannot effectively read print.
The Ear substitutes hearing for seeing, improving the lives of
people with limited or no vision by enabling them to be well-informed
members of their families, their communities and the working world.
http://www.washear.org/
The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
in Baltimore provides library service to all eligible citizens
of Maryland. Under the direction of the National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress
and the Division of Library Development and Services of the Maryland
State Department of Education, this Library serves the reading
and informational needs of Maryland's blind and physically handicapped
citizens throughout the State. Click on the link below to access
the application for free service.
http://www.lbph.lib.md.us/app.htm
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Prince
George's County Memorial Library System
