If you cannot travel to a Los Angeles Public Library branch to checkout and return library materials, you may apply for a Homebound library card. With this card, you may choose a friend or neighbor to pick-up and return library materials for you.

If you would like to receive an application for a Homebound library card or need additional information about this service, contact your local branch library or call (213) 228-7540, or click here for an application which you can print out and mail in.

TDD: 1-877-488-HEAR (4327)

TDD access for hearing impaired individuals to the Los Angeles Public Library can be obtained by dialing 213-228-7096 or 877-488-HEAR (4327). Library staff will respond to inquiries about library activities and services and provide quick answers to requests for basic information.

ZOOM TEXT Screen Magnification & Screen Reading

ZoomText is an application designed for the visually impaired. It has two
main features: screen magnification and screen reading. These two features
enable the user to see and hear everything displayed on the computer screen.
ZoomText is available on one computer at Central Library in both the Singleton Literacy Center – 1st Floor and the Computer Center – Lower Level 3,
and the following branches:

• Canoga Park 
• El Sereno 
• Exposition Park-Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Regional 
• Frances Howard Goldwyn-Hollywood Regional
• West Los Angeles Regional 
• West Valley Regional 

Please note that the branch workstations are not reserved solely for Zoom Text use. To make a reservation for a computer workstation with Zoom Text:

• Go to “Reserve a Computer” - http://www.lapl.org/reserve_a_computer/
• Select one of the above branches
• Select “Internet/WordProcessing/ZoomText 1 hr” from the “PC type” drop-down menu.

If you wish to use the ScreenReader features you will need to bring headphones.

 

Newsline® For The Blind

Newsline® for the Blind is a service offered by the National Federation of the Blind and provided locally by the Los Angeles Public Library.

People who are blind or visually impaired can use Newsline® to read selected local and national newspapers. Using a touch-tone phone, individuals call into the service through a local phone number. Newspapers available in the Los Angeles area include USA Today, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times. Coverage for each newspaper includes all text articles in the editions for today, yesterday, and the previous Sunday.

Newsline® is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It is a free service to registered users. Anyone who cannot read printed newspapers due to vision loss, dyslexia, or a physical disability is eligible to receive NFB-NEWSLINE®.  Register by calling the National Federation of the Blind toll-free at 1 (866) 504-7300 to request an application.  You may also download an application or fill out the online application to register.Introductory materials and a password will be mailed to the applicant.

For more information on the service, please call the National Federation of the Blind, San Fernando Valley Chapter at (818) 563-2338 or visit the National Federation of the Blind web site.