Hearing has become more accessible at a local library.
Three hearing loops are now available for use at The People’s Place: Antigonish Town and County Library’s workstations at their circulation desk.
Branch manager, Kristel Fleuren-Hunter shared with us that people can connect their Bluetooth hearing aids or use a handheld receiver, like an old telephone, to amplify sound.
“We’re always trying to make sure our services are available for everybody. We’ve been actively working on improving our accessibility in many different areas. We just don’t want to see folks being left out,” expressed Fleuren-Hunter.
“Hearing loss is pretty serious and it can have a lot of impact on folks in terms of including sort of impacting social isolation, if you can’t hear and you can’t participate fully in programs. So, we’re just hoping that this helps folks out a bit and makes the library just a little more friendly and accessible.”
She says these hearing devices make staff voices crisper and clearer for people with hearing loss or whose first language is not English.
Accessible Hearing Solutions installed the hearing loops, along with mobile hearing equipment in the library’s community room which will help make programs more accessible.
The library received funding for this equipment from the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund.
Hearing loops are also available for use at the Pictou Library.
