Services for people with visual impairments
Some libraries offer materials or IT programmes that are adapted to enable people with visual impairments to make use of the library's resources.
Internet access
The libraries have computers which can be accessed by people with visual impairments, which have an internet browsing programme installed that permits guided browsing.
Material resources
All the libraries have handheld and table top magnifiers. Also, the Francesc Candel library have one electronic magnifier, a manual expander of letters, and one optic reader with synthesizer, that scans all types of paper documents, as a reading aid for people with visual impairments.
Biblioteques de Barcelona has also launched a pilot project in the Vapor Vell and Bon Pastor libraries, which involves labelling the music collection in Braille. This initiative helps visually impaired and blind people to choose music.
JAWS and NVDA screen-reading programs
Libraries with the JAWS screen-reading program JAWS (acronym for Job Access with Speech) is a screen-reading program for people who are blind or visually impaired. It is aimed at making computers more accessible to people with a visual impairment. It works through a program that converts the contents on a screen into sound, so that users can access or browse computers without having to read their screens.
NVDA (acronym for NonVisual Desktop Access) is a free program that is also used as a screen-reader by people who are blind or visually impaired.
The following libraries have the JAWS program in a computer in their multimedia sections: Barceloneta-La Fraternitat, Esquerra de l'Eixample - Agustí Centelles, Sagrada Família – Josep M. Ainaud de Lasarte, Francesc Candel, Poble-sec-Francesc Boix, Les Corts-Miquel Llongueras, Jaume Fuster, Guinardó-Mercè Rodoreda, Horta-Can Mariner, Nou Barris, Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta, Zona Nord, Ignasi Iglésias-Can Fabra, La Sagrera-Marina Clotet, Trinitat Vella-J. Barbero and Poblenou-Manuel Arranz.
The Joan Miró Library also has JAWS in a computer in its Internet i + section.
The following libraries have the NVDA program in a computer in their multimedia sections : Barceloneta-La Fraternitat, Francesca Bonnemaison, Gòtic-Andreu Nin, Sant Pau-Santa Creu, Esquerra de l'Eixample - Agustí Centelles, Sagrada Família – Josep M. Ainaud de Lasarte, Sant Antoni-Joan Oliver, Francesc Candel, Montserrat Abelló, Jaume Fuster, Vallcarca i els Penitents-M. Antonieta Cot, Vila de Gràcia, El Carmel-Juan Marsé, Guinardó-Mercè Rodoreda, Horta-Can Mariner, Montbau-Albert Pérez Baró, Les Roquetes, Nou Barris, Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta, Bon Pastor, Ignasi Iglésias-Can Fabra, Trinitat Vella-José Barbero, Camp de l’Arpa-Caterina Albert, El Clot-Josep Benet and Xavier Benguerel.
Document archives
Audio books
Large print books: books with large print to make them easier to read
Easy reading books: books designed to be read and understood by people who have reading difficulties.
Films with audio-description
Services for people with hearing impairments
Biblioteques de Barcelona offers a sign language service for any activity on the cultural or training programme, available on request to anyone who requires this service.
There are libraries in the network with sign language signs on the story collection.
Magnetic ring
The magnetic ring is a transmission system that enables the sound to be transmitted directly to the hearing aids of people with hearing impairments.
The following libraries offer this service: Esquerra de l'Eixample - Agustí Centelles, Sagrada Família-Josep M. Ainaud de Lasarte, Sant Antoni - Joan Oliver, Francesc Candel, Poble-sec - Francesc Boix, Montserrat Abelló, Jaume Fuster, Vallcarca i els Penitents - M. Antonieta Cot, Guinardó-Mercè Rodoreda, Vilapicina i la Torre Llobeta, Zona Nord, Bon Pastor, Ignasi Iglésias - Can Fabra, La Sagrera - Marina Clotet, Trinitat Vella - J. Barbero, El Clot - Josep Benet, Camp de l'Arpa - Caterina Albert and Poble Nou - Manuel Arranz.
Document archives
Stories in Catalan and Spanish sign language
Subtitled films for deaf
