Wellington City Libraries

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Services for Customers with Disabilities

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Below you'll find details of some of our library services for customers with disabilities. We know that accessibility can make or break our patrons' experience at our libraries - if you have suggestions for improvements, please contact us.


For customers unable to visit the library

Housebound

The Housebound service is available to customers who are unable to visit the library long-term. We can find books (or other library materials, depending on your requirements) for you and deliver them.

Please note that deliveries may be done by police-checked volunteers from the community as well as library staff.

This is a free service.

If you would prefer to nominate a family member, neighbour or friend to borrow on your behalf and deliver your items, please talk with our staff about our Community Agent scheme.

Temporarily unable to visit the library

Library Express service

If you are temporarily unable to visit the library, our Library Express service is an option.

Library Express is a charged service that allows you to arrange with our staff for a selection of items (either chosen by our librarians, or nominated by you) to be delivered to you by courier.

For more information about the service and charges, visit our Library Express page.

Courier delivery option in our Catalogue

Home delivery by courier is also available as an option when you reserve individual items yourself in our library catalogue. The distinction from Library Express is that this is an automated service you select that delivers only the single reserved item.

This is also a charged service. For more details, visit our Courier Home Delivery page.

Choose 'home delivery' as your pickup branch when you reserve on our library catalogue
Choose 'home delivery' as your pickup branch when you reserve on our Library Catalogue

Collection deposits in rest homes

We also make available collection deposits in rest homes for residents with mobility difficulties.

Contact us if this is a service you would be interested in providing.

Borrowing online via our eLibrary

Our online services are always available and can be accessed from home - check out our eLibrary.

Our main source of eBooks and eAudiobooks is Libby, by OverDrive. Find help to get started with Libby — including accessibility features.

Audio Access Membership

If you have a membership card for Deaf Aotearoa, Blind Low Vision NZ or equivalent, you can become an Audio Access patron and use AV material for free.

For d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Borrow audio visual items free of charge

Did you know? We have a special membership type that allows people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing to borrow audio visual items such as sub-titled DVDs free of charge. If you or someone you know would benefit from this kind of membership, email us or visit any of our branches with a membership card for Deaf Aotaroa or a referral letter from a health professional and we can adjust your account.

For Blind or Low Vision

Talking books, CDs & DVDs

We offer a range of talking books, CDs, and DVDs. If you have a disability which prevents you from using printed material (vision impairment), you can become an Audio Access patron and use AV material for free.

If your sight impairment qualifies you for membership of Blind Low Vision NZ or equivalent, you will also be eligible to borrow CDs and DVDs for free (overdue fees will still apply). Please bring notification from the Foundation or your health professional, and eligibility will be noted on your library account.

Large Print collections

There are Large Print book collections at all sites. This collection is growing all the time because of demand.

ZoomText Magnifier/Reader

ZoomText software is available to use at Karori Library. ZoomText enlarges font size on webpages and electronic documents (email, newspaper databases etc) and can be set to read these aloud or display in high contrast large print.

Need help using ZoomText? Try this ZoomText tutorial.

Contact Housebound for further information.

Digital Audiobooks

Explore our growing collection of digital audiobooks, available online via our eLibrary, and use your library card to download titles to your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Our main source of eBooks and eAudiobooks is Libby, by OverDrive. Find help to get started with Libby — including accessibility features.

For wheelchair users and other mobility disabilities

All Wellington City Libraries branches are wheelchair accessible; we also have wheelchair accessible issue desks at some of our branches.

Baskets and trolleys

There are red carrier baskets or small wire trollies available to assist you carrying your selections around the library.

Toilets

There are disabled toilets at Te Awe Library in the CBD, and Johnsonville, Tawa and Kilbirnie libraries.

Accessibility Solutions

ZoomText Magnifier/Reader

ZoomText software is available to use at Karori Library. ZoomText enlarges font size on webpages and electronic documents (email, newspaper databases etc) and can be set to read these aloud or display in high contrast large print.

Need help using ZoomText? Try this ZoomText tutorial.

Contact Housebound for further information.

Borrow online with our eLibrary

Thousands of magazines and newspapers, along with dictionaries, encyclopedias and other information, are available online through our mygateway.info databases. You can access these within the library or remotely with your library card number.

Library Catalogue

Search our Library Catalogue, check your library card and place reserves online from home or any Internet-connected device.

New Books

You can find links to monthly lists of new books in one place on our What's New page.

Other disabilities

Groups of people (and individuals) with other disabilities are welcome to contact the library and arrange a special library session, to share their library needs and learn how they can use the library.

Contact us

Can't find the information you need? Contact us.

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