Tipperary libraries have a wide range of collections that cater to a variety of user needs.
From those with visual impairment or literacy issues to children with special needs or learning difficulties we now loan out materials as diverse as Sensory Toys, Audio books, Quick Reads, Age-Friendly Smart Tablets and C-Pen Readerpens.
We also have Magic Tables (interactive game and image projectors) in the following branches: Clonmel, Cashel, Carrick-On-Suir, Nenagh & Thurles.
Many of our branches provide a variety of options to assist those who are visually impaired with their reading needs. We have a good variety of Large Print titles available to borrow from most branches. Titles can also be ordered from other libraries around the country.
We also have selections of Audio Books on CD. Once again titles from any branch around the county and country can be ordered to supplement what is available locally.
On top of this members also get free access to the Borrowbox App which has a huge collection of e-audiobooks which you can download onto your phone or tablet and then just listen at your leisure. Titles on Borrowbox can be reserved or renewed the same as you would with any title borrowed from your library.
Many of our branches also have a Quick Reads section. Quick Reads provide a route into reading that prioritises great storytelling and adult-focused content while ensuring the books are written in an accessible and easy to read style. The books are written by some of the most popular authors in the UK – including Andy McNab, Jojo Moyes, Anne Cleeves, Ian Rankin and Benjamin Zephaniah – so they can be a brilliant entry point to new genres and authors, as well as the spark to reignite or build up the joy of reading.
Magic Tables project interactive games and vibrant images onto tables or floors. These games and images respond to the movements of the user via infrared sensors. The specially designed technology can be used to help people with mid-to-late stage dementia and also those with autism and/or learning disabilities. Benefits to users can include: increased physical and cognitive activity, reduction in restless and tense behaviour, stimulation of reminiscence and conversation and improved social interaction.
Tipperary County Council Library Service now offers a specialist sensory toy and resource collection to assist children with special needs or learning difficulties. This collection allows us to create an inclusive space where children have greater access to relevant services and collections that meet their needs.
The aim of the collection is to support children and their parents in choosing and utilising these specialist toys for developmental growth. These toys are designed to support the progression of important skills, including gross motor skills, fine motor skills, communication skills and visual perception skills.
With funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the toys have been purchased with advice from professionals working with children with special needs or learning difficulties.
Designed with the older person in mind, but suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about how to use a tablet, the ACORN Age-Friendly Smart Tablet is easy to use, easy to navigate and has an uncluttered interface, making online communication and access to the internet simple and rewarding for even the most inexperienced user. Friends and family can connect with ACORN users by downloading the Acorn Companion App which is available on Google Play and the App Store.
The design of this tablet is based around easy navigation and accessibility. Optimum screen size, colour-coding, uncluttered displays, a consistent navigation system, larger fonts and zoom function help build fast familiarity and make it easier to use then mainstream smartphones, smart tablets and computers.
Call into your local branch now to find out more about borrowing these wonderful devices, which are available for 3-month loans.
As part of our continued support of literacy development, Tipperary County Council Library Service offers the C-Pen Readerpen to borrow from all our branches throughout the county. The Readerpen is a state-of-the art assistive technology designed to support independent reading and learning. Simply scan text with the Readerpen and it will read it aloud as you move over the words.
Additional functions include a dictionary tool that will give you the instant definition of a word once you scan it. You can also scan and store text internally or scan it to a computer. There is also a voice recorder which saves MP3 voice notes. With 3GB of storage space and no Wi-Fi requirement the Readerpen is a self-contained learning tool with adjustable preferences (type of reading voice, speed of reading, punctuation pause duration, volume) to suit readers of all ages and levels.
Now you can enjoy the best collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks on your mobile devices, anywhere and everywhere, for free with our app.