Special Services and Collections

Persons with Low-Vision or Who are Visually Impaired

ELVIS Low-vision Computer Workstation

ELVIS, a workstation for people with low vision, is a computer that talks, a screen that you can see, and a PC which transforms the printed word. For more information, please visit www.tcpl.org/elvis.

Large Type Books

Titles in large type format are selected to meet the recreational interests and information needs of adults who require a larger than usual font size in order to read comfortably.

The collection consists of fiction and nonfiction titles whose purchase is influenced by the popularity of the author’s titles already in the regular or large type collection, media attention, or awards and “best of” lists for the original format edition.

Selection of large type is limited by the number of books available in large type.

Print Magnifier

The library has a color magnifier which allows users to enlarge the text of book or newspaper for easier reading.

Talking Book and Braille Library through the New York State Library

Tompkins County Public Library carries applications for joining this program through the State of New York. Applications and additional information are also available online at www.nysl.nysed.gov/tbbl.

English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Literacy Collection

English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Literacy Collection

The adult literacy collection is for adults learning to read and/or adults who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL). Here are English language usage/workbooks, citizenship materials, easy readers geared specifically toward adult interests, how-to books and more. This collection also has audiobooks on CDs or tape cassettes packaged with the print versions. Some audiobooks can be played at a slower speed for beginners, then at a faster speed when the student is more proficient.

Subject guides for Adult Literacy and ESL highlight the library's collections, how to search our catalog, local agencies and web resources.

TELL ME MORE is a language learning program that addresses reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, grammar, and culture. It covers beginner through advanced in the languages offered. http://www.tcpl.org/navigateway/tellmemore.html

We welcome your suggestions for authors and works that you would like added to the Adult Literacy/ESL collection.  Please submit a purchase request form or visit the Ask A Librarian page www.tcpl.org/ask.html to let us know your ideas.

Students and Readers of World Languages

World Languages Collection

The World Languages Collection consists of books in more than 20 languages. Titles are available in many Asian and European languages, including (but not limited to):  Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Indian, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

There are approximately 2,000 titles in the library's World Languages collection. The collection contains primarily fiction titles, and strives to offer core literature classics, as well as popular works published in an author's native language and translations of popular English works.

Book selection reflects patron needs and interests and may be constrained by availability.  Disparity in the amount of materials for each language is influenced by the low volume of publishing in some languages and/or difficulty obtaining what is published. The collection is enhanced and complemented by bilingual materials, grammar and dictionaries (400's), foreign films, and audio-visual language instructional materials.

There is a World Languages subject guide that highlights the collection, how to search the catalog, local agencies and web resources.

We welcome your suggestions for authors and works that you would like added to our World Languages collection.  Please submit a purchase request form or visit the Ask A Librarian page www.tcpl.org/ask.html to let us know your ideas.

Persons who are Homebound

Mail-It Delivery Service through Finger Lakes Library System

Mail-It is a free, tax-supported library service that gets library materials to people who cannot use their local library for any reason. Additional information is available at www.flls.org/outreach.