01/04/2008: "New Magnifier At SJI Library"

The San Juan Island Library today announced that they will begin offering the Bierley MonoMouse – an easy to use, hand held electronic magnifier – as part of an innovative loan program designed to help visually impaired members of the community.

The magnifier, which is similar to an oversized computer mouse, is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in the palm of a user’s hand. It connects to a television, and whatever the magnifier is moved across appears large and clear on the television screen, making small text especially easy to read. The mouse comes with an attached standard RCA plug to make connecting to a television extremely easy.

For more information about the MonoMouse Magnifier at the San Juan Island Library, please contact 378-2798 or ask any librarian the next time you visit the library; and read the rest of the story below:

“There are many people who would like to use the library but believe, rightly or wrongly, that because of their sight loss, libraries no longer have anything to offer them,” said Beth Helstien, Library outreach coordinator. “With the MonoMouse, our patrons with vision impairment can now borrow any book from the library and enjoy reading it at home.”

A library patron simply borrows the MonoMouse magnifier along with a book of their choice, returns home, plugs the MonoMouse into their own television and is then able to read the super sized text right on the screen. When the magnifier and book become due, the patron returns them to the library as usual. The program is designed to help people to regain their independence and reignite their desire to read.

“The MonoMouse was specifically designed to allow anyone with impaired vision to be able to read anything such as books and magazines, easily and conveniently,” said Ian Bierley, President, Bierley Associates. “We have been having great success working with libraries in Europe and now we are pleased that the opportunity is becoming available to communities across the USA,” Bierley added.

About Low Vision Assistance from the Library
The MonoMouse is just the newest addition to what the Library calls the Low Vision collection. Lighted handheld magnifiers, visor magnifiers similar to jeweler’s visors, and other magnification devices are also available for patrons to borrow and try out at home. Moreover, the library also offers a magnifier already connected to a monitor that patrons may use inside the building to read, look at family photographs, or use to perform tasks like writing checks or letters.