ADA Accommodations

Nashville Public Library is committed to making its facilities, programs, and services accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.

Accommodations for Library Events

We offer the following accommodations for library events and programs. We must have at least 1 week advance notice. Contact the Equal Access Division for more information: (615) 862-5750.

Assistive Listening Devices: FM devices that amplify sound for hard of hearing individuals. Allows each person to individually adjust the sound level to his/her needs.
Open Captioning: The library has the capability to provide CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) or real-time captioning for live programming offered by Nashville Public Library.
Sign Language Oral Interpreting: Sign language and oral interpreters for deaf people are available for library-sponsored programming. Staff members fluent in American Sign Language are available to help individuals for in-house library programs and services.

Equipment and Services

The following is a listing of accommodations that are available to help people utilize the library.

Autism and Sensory Sensitivities

Social Stories

Social Stories help families prepare for visits to the library. View Social Stories for each NPL location.

Developed in partnership with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center's TRIAD (Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders).

Sensory Room at Main Library

Main Library offers a sensory room in the 2nd floor children's area. Children of all ages and abilities are invited to utilize this space with their parents. Capacity is 3 people (but infants are allowed in addition to that number).

The space includes six soft gel tiles, a bubble tube, a comfortable light-up seat, a "Break Box" full of sensory/fidget toys and headphones, some curated board-books, and a sensory tent, adorned with string lights.

Low Vision

Handheld Magnification Devices

We offer a variety of hand-held magnification devices ranging from 1.5x to 4x magnification. Helpful for reading print materials.

Available for use from Service Desks at any Nashville Public Library location.

Text Magnifiers

Designed for people with low vision. Enlarges text up to 50x. Changes color of print & background. Creates sight lines both vertically and horizontally.

Available for use at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division
Main Library, 2nd Floor: Nashville Room
Main Library, 3rd Floor: Public Technology Division

MAGic (Screen Magnification Software)

Enlarges computer screen images for people with low vision. Works like a magnifying glass for the computer by magnifying image 1x – 36x.

Features:

Supports reading .pdf documents in Adobe Acrobat or Reader 6.01 or later
Forty-five magnification levels
Cursor enhancements assist in locating and following the cursor
Color enhancements improve screen legibility by adjusting contrast, brightness and color

Available for use at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

Keys-U-See (Large Print Keyboards)

Large Print keyboards have oversized keys for people who have a difficult time seeing traditional sized keyboards.

Two colors available:

Black keys with white letter/number markings
Yellow keys with black markings

Available for use at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

Large Computer Monitor

People with low vision may use a 32” computer monitor.

Available for use at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

Blind

Nashville Talking Library

Provides current reading materials including books, magazines, and daily newspapers via free radio receiver to eligible listeners (visually impaired or disabled) in the Middle Tennessee area. Call (615) 862-5874 or visit Nashville Talking Library, for information.

Open Book Version 9.0 (computer software)

Designed for people with low vision or people who are blind. Scans text from a book or a magazine and reads it aloud. Can also enlarge the text, change color, change spacing, or even allow the user to edit the text.

Available for use at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

JAWS (Screen Reader Software)

Computer screen reader program designed for people who are blind. Provides access to software programs (i.e. Microsoft Word) and the Internet by reading the information that appears on the computer monitor out loud. Can also send information to the refreshable Braille display.

Available for use at the following location:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

Duxbury Version 11.2 (computer software)

Braille translation software that converts English print into Braille.

Available for use at the following location:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

Braille Embosser

Versa Point Duo Braille Printer and sound proof cover. Can print two sides at once and offers adjustable line spacing.

Available for use at the following location:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

Deaf

FM Assistive Listening Devices

FM devices that amplify sound for hard of hearing individuals. Allows each person to individually adjust the sound level to his/her needs.

Receivers, headsets and neck loops are available for public usage in meeting rooms and theaters within Main Library.

Kits, including transmitters, receivers, headsets, and neck loops, are available for use in branch locations for library programming and are available for loan to the public.

Available for use at the following locations:

Main Library, 1st Floor: Conference Center, Meeting Rooms, and Auditorium
Main Library, 2nd Floor: Children’s Theatre
Main Library, 3rd Floor: The Commons
Branch Libraries: Bellevue Branch, Bordeaux, Green Hills, Hermitage, Madison, Southeast

Requests for Assistive Listening Devices (individual use, check out, and return) only at:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division
Branch Libraries: Available with 72-hour advance notification for use at branches.

Open Captioning

The library has the capability to provide CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) or real time captioning for live programming offered by Nashville Public Library.

Available for use at the following locations:

Main Library, 1st Floor: Conference Center, Meeting Rooms
Branch Locations: All branches have the capability for open captioning

Requests for CART Services should be made at:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division, Main Library, (615) 862-5750
At least 1 week advance notice must be given, and more, if possible.

Sign Language Oral Interpreting

Sign language and oral interpreters for deaf people are available for library-sponsored programming. At least 72 hours advance notice must be given.

Several staff members fluent in American Sign Language are available to help individuals for in-house library programs and services.

Requests for interpreters should be made at:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division, (615) 862-5750

Video Relay Services / Captioned Telephone Relay Services

Public-use videophones from 3 of the leading relay service providers are available for use by Deaf individuals that communicate using sign language. Captioned telephones are also available for deaf people who prefer to speak and receive written communication.

Available for use at the following location:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

Mobility Impairments

Nashville Public Library is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by making the appropriate structural accommodations for people with mobility impairments to utilize all of its buildings and facilities (e.g. accessible parking and accessible entryways to buildings, etc.).

Wheelchairs

A wheelchair provided by the library is available for use in the Main Library.

On-site requests for the wheelchair may be made at:

Main Library, 1st Floor: Security Desk

Adjustable Computer Table

Computer access is made easier with electric push-button tables that are adjustable to any wheelchair height.

Available at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division

BIGtrack Ball

3” trackball for use by people who do not have the fine motor skills required to use a computer mouse.

Available at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division (may be easily moved for use in the Children’s Division, Main Library, 2nd Floor)

Roller II Joystick

Computer mouse alternative for users with moderate to severe motor skill difficulties. Includes 2 alternative stick grips which can be easily fitted, a T-Bar, and a soft, orange-sized ball. Requires very little energy to operate.

Available at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division (may be easily moved for use in the Children’s Division, Main Library, 2nd Floor)

Learning Disabilities

WYNN Wizard Version 5.10

Scanning and reading literacy software. Scans text from a book, magazine, or word processing file and reads it aloud to the user. Can also enlarge the text, change color, change spacing. It even allows the user to create and edit the text.

Features:

Reads word processing documents, Adobe Acrobat PDF files, text files, and the Internet. Text is highlighted in context as it is spoken aloud
Masking ability allows the user to “mask out” all but three words, one sentence, or one paragraph as it is read aloud
User may enter notes manually (type in)

Available at the following locations:

Main Library, 3rd Floor: Equal Access Division (may be easily moved for use in the Children’s Division, Main Library, 2nd Floor)

Contact Us

Email:

Send us a message

Phone:

(615) 862-5750 (Voice)
(615) 290-5211 (VP)
(615) 970-8105 (Text)
(615) 862-5494 (Fax)
1-800-342-3262 (Voice - Toll Free)