vision impaired visitors

AN ELECTRONIC video magnifier that can also turn text into speech has been donated to the Greater Hamilton Library to improve the reading experience for people with low or impaired vison. 

The electronic video magnifier was donated by community resident, Timothy Gaussen, who is vision impaired.

Southern Grampians Shire Council library services coordinator, Kelly Pitt-Lancaster, said the magnifier was already benefitting many library visitors, enabling them to read or listen to a variety of texts.

“We’d like to sincerely thank Mr Gaussen for his generous donation,” she said.

“Community funding and donations such as this make a huge difference for small, rural communities such as ours.”

In conjunction with this, the Greater Hamilton Library received $1000 under the 2023 National Backyard Cricket funding program to purchase a Vision Assistance Station to house the magnifier at the library.

The Learning for a Better World Trust, in collaboration with Friends of Libraries Australia and Harvey Norman has allocated more than $110,000 to 78 libraries throughout regional, rural, and remote Australia through the National Backyard Cricket initiative for various projects and educational programs.

“The National Backyard Cricket grant has enabled us to purchase suitable furniture to house this vision assistance technology and create a dedicated space for vision challenged members of the community to enjoy a new reading experience,” Ms Pitt-Lancaster said.

Friends of Libraries Australia president, Jack Goodman, was happy to see facilities improve in a regional library.

“Country libraries are at the heart of the community, providing havens where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to share ideas, learn new skills, and connect with each other,” he said.

“These grants are another example of the exceptional projects being run by Australia’s under-funded, but highly valued, country public libraries.”