We are committed to consistent improvement in the accessibility of our building, services and resources. To comply with the Accessible BC Act, the Gibsons & District Public Library has joined the Sunshine Coast Regional District Accessibility Committee which will work on an Accessibility plan for the Sunshine Coast. We are also working with the InterLINK Library Federation Accessibility Committee.
Physical Accessibility of GDPL Building
* Designated accessible parking near street level front doors
*Sheltered entryway
*Power operated front doors
* Accessible Washroom
*Highly visible and easy to locate information desk
*Low water drinking fountain
*Wide aisles enabling mobility space within library
*Variety of seating options
*Accessible computer kiosk with a chair-free desk and keyboard (in progress)
Accessible Library Resources
A print disability can be a:
*Learning Disability: An impairment relating to comprehension
*Physical Disability: The inability to hold or manipulate a book
*Visual Disability: Severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes
CELA and NNELS
The National Network of Equitable Library Service (NNELS)
If you have a print disability, you qualify to register as a print-disabled library member: this allows you to access resources from NNELS. NNELS is a repository of content owned and sustained by Canadian public libraries, working with partners to make copies of books in accessible formats for readers in Canada who have print disabilities. For more information please visit the NNELS website.
The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA)
The Centre for Equitable Library Access, CELA, is a national not-for-profit organization that provides accessible reading services to the approximately 3 million people across Canada with print disabilities. Through these services we can now provide audiobook, ebook and e-Braille downloads, and/or physical CDs to patrons who identify themselves as having a print disability. For more information please visit the CELA website.
Ask at our Reference Desk, or contact us at gdplinfo@gibsonslibrary.ca or (604) 886-2130 to register as a print-disabled member in order to use CELA and NNELS. We’ll help you or a caregiver get started!
Interlink Audiobooks
Public Library InterLINK is a co-operative federation of eighteen autonomous public libraries. One of the many services they provide is the lending of audiobooks for print-disabled patrons. For more information on this InterLINK service, please visit their website.
DAISY Players and Discs
Victor Reader
We have a large collection of DAISY-format audiobook CDs as well as two Victor Reader machines available for print-impaired patrons to borrow. The Victor Reader plays DAISY and MP3 audiobooks, music on CDs, SD cards, and USB flash drives.
Envoy Connect
Envoy Connect, an easy to use, portable device for reading accessible downloadable audiobooks. Find out more about Envoy Connect.
Other Accessible Resources
* large print books
* physical audiobooks (both DAISY & regular format)
* Libby – borrow ebooks, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, and more from your local library. Libby is the library reading app by OverDrive.
* Press Reader – digital access to 5000 of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines. Accessibility mode enables audio, tab navigation, color contrast, large named buttons, and user font size control.
* Librivox – free public domain downloadable audiobooks
* coming soon:
For help with any of the resources above, please email us at gdplinfo@gibsonslibrary.ca or call us at (604) 886-2130
Accessibility Feedback
Help us understand the barriers you face when accessing our services and the successful access you have experienced.
How to provide feedback:
Please email or phone our Library Director, Heather Evans-Cullen at hecullen@gibsonslibrary.ca (604) 886-2130. Please include the following information:
*What you were trying to access
*Where the barrier happened and what the barrier was
*Any recommendations you might have
Alternatively, you can fill out our online feedback form