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Access For All

Somerville Public Library, in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations that include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to, or in the administration of, its programs, services, and activities for the public. The Main Library and East Branch Library are wheelchair accessible; the historic West Branch Library is not. In accordance with these laws, the Somerville Public Library will make reasonable accommodation to the known physical and mental limitations of people with disabilities in order to provide an equal opportunity to enjoy and participate in the Library's programs, services, and activities available to the public. The Library will not retaliate against any individual who has complained of or opposed a violation of the ADA or of Section 504. Individuals who need auxiliary aids for effective communication or any other reasonable accommodation are invited to make their needs known to the City’s ADA Coordinator, Betsy Allen. She can be reached at 617-625-6600 x2323 or ballen@somervillema.gov. The City of Somerville's disability policy can be found on the City's Personnel-ADA webpage.

Home Delivery Service

The library provides home delivery service of books and other library materials to older adults, people with disabilities and other patrons who are unable to come to the library, or arrange for a family member, friend, or other assistant to come for them. Please contact Philip Peck at 617-623-5000 x 2944 or ppeck@minlib.net if you wish to inquire about this service.

Assistive Technology

The Somerville Public Library is committed to providing easy access, adaptive technology, and other resources to individuals with disabilities.

The Library has recorded books on tape, playaways, and CD’s for children and adults, large print titles, and Overdrive, a program for downloading audible books to laptops, ipads, and other playback devices. The Library also provides headphones for use with computers and other devices at the reference desk at the Main Library and main desks at the branch libraries. For more information contact Caron Guigli (see above).

Animals

Only Service Animals are allowed in the library in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Massachusetts General Laws, Ch. 272, Sec. 98A. Other animals are not allowed.

The following is a link to the ADA webpage related to Service Animals.

http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm