Access Services
The Access Services Department of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library is dedicated to ensuring that the library remains accessible to everyone regardless of specialized or adaptive needs.
As the Fredericksburg Subregional Library, CRRL was among the first adopters of Gutenberg machinery and operates the Talking Books and Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) programs for the Cities of Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park; Counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Westmoreland, Caroline, Culpeper, Orange, Fauquier, King George, and Prince William; and Military Bases of Quantico, Dahlgren, and Fort Walker.
Our Hours, opens a new window
- In Person: Monday-Thursday, 9am-1pm (located within the Howell Branch)
- By appointment only: Friday 9am-5pm
- By Phone or Email, opens a new window: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Talking Books & BARD Programs
Both free programs, with no late fees or wait lines, Talking Books and BARD allow individuals with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, physical or print disability to have books, magazines, musical scores, and more read aloud to them from a freely provided machine or from a downloadable app.
There are over 100,000 titles available in the Talking Books catalog, including Braille and foreign-language materials. You can also see the latest additions to the Talking Books catalog in the Talking Books Topics magazine.
Institutions with individuals who qualify for these services may also be signed up for the Talking Books service. Schools are strongly encouraged to allow students to enroll individually so that the students may continue to receive services in the event of graduation or transfers.
Deaf Culture Digital Library
Deaf Culture Digital Library
What is the Deaf Culture Digital Library?
The Deaf Culture Digital Library was established in 2021. It is dedicated to providing visitors assistance and guidance in:
- offering resources about deaf culture
- acquiring and preserving an excellent collection of deaf resources in digital formats
- furnishing access to information regardless of location
- providing highly competent assistance to Virginia residents and library staff in local public library systems, academic librarians in colleges and universities, and other libraries in the state of Virginia
Accessibility Features at the Library Branches
CRRL tries to make it easy for library users to move through its branches by offering:
- Accessible parking spaces, ramps, and restrooms at all branches.
- An open-floor, easily traversable layout at its branches, with no interior stairs at any branches except the Fredericksburg Branch, which has elevator access to all floors.
- Drive-up book drops and wheelchair-accessible doors at many branches.
- Walkers or wheelchairs are available at many branches upon request.
- Porter & Howell elected to put needlepoint bipolar ionization systems, opens a new window, which kill the COVID virus within an hour.
Please contact your local library branch if you have questions about specific features at that location.
Library Collection Accessibility Features
CRRL’S digital collection offers the following accessibility features:
- eBooks allow the reader to change the background color, increase text size, change line spacing, and choose the font (letter style) - including OpenDyslexic.
- Kanopy Streaming Video offers streaming films and documentaries with closed captioning.
- LinkedIn Learning offers online video courses with closed captioning and a full transcript that appears under the video.
- Other online research resources with built-in accessibility features including language translation, closed-captioned videos, and text-to-speech articles.
The Access Services department is also proud to offer the following additional services at our in-person location:
- JAWS: JAWS is a screen-reading software that allows blind individuals to use a computer with a set of headphones.
- Braille: We have a limited capacity to Braille documents.
- Sorensen: Insignia is a videophone, provided by the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, which is available for individuals who use sign language to conduct outgoing calls on.
- Sign language interpretation for programming.
Accessibility in the Catalog
Outreach Services
CRRL also offers the following services for those who are unable to come to the library.
Books-by-Mail
Books-by-mail is a service that sends library materials by mail to those who cannot physically come to the library due to temporary or permanent health, mobility, transportation, or age-related disability. Requested titles are checked out for one month and mailed directly to your home. You are responsible for returning them to the library, including any necessary return postage.
If you or someone you know has difficulty visiting the library and would like more information about receiving materials by mail, please email the Access Services Librarian at babak.zarin@crrl.org,, opens a new window or call Access Services at (540) 372-1144, ext. 7454 or 1-800-628-4807.
Library on the Go, opens a new window
We bring the library to you!
With our satellite locations at Belmont and Partlow, pick up your holds, use a public computer, and browse the library collection once a week. Through our Lobby Stops, we visit over a dozen assisted living facilities and senior apartments and the Lake Anna area. At the residential facilities, CRRL staff bring browsing materials and requested items inside to customers, tailoring our selections and services to these special audiences.
Cognitive and Emotional Impairment Offerings
CRRL recognizes not all impairments are visible. Those with cognitive and emotional impairments - also known as “invisible” disabilities - are welcome to utilize CRRL services and spaces.
Memory Café
A Memory Café is a comfortable, supportive environment where people with dementia and their family caregivers can socialize, build support networks, and enjoy meaningful dementia-friendly activities together. CRRL offers two quarterly Memory Cafés for those with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
Quiet Reading Time
Bring your book and read with others in a quiet, supportive space. Adult coloring pages provided.
Time with a Therapy Dog & PAWS for Reading
Read or relax with a therapy dog (Grades 7-adult) or practice your reading with therapy dogs (Grades K-6). Call or visit the branch to book your time.
Alzheimer Caregiver Support Groups
If you need support from others during a difficult time, this group is for you. Presented by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Sensory Time
Stories, songs and activities to support early literacy practices in an environment that adapts to youth with developmental challenges.
Cognitive & Emotional Impairment Offerings at the Library
Quiet Reading Time, part of a series
PAWS for Reading at Fredericksburg, part of a series
Time With a Therapy Dog at Howell, part of a series
Time With a Therapy Dog at Fredericksburg, part of a series
Quiet Reading Time, part of a series
PAWS for Reading at Fredericksburg, part of a series
Time With a Therapy Dog at Howell, part of a series
Time With a Therapy Dog at Fredericksburg, part of a series
Accessibility Statement
CRRL is committed to providing customers with equal access to:
- library collections and services
- programming and events
- facilities and branches
CRRL honors these commitments by offering the programming and services described on this page. CRRL also tries - when possible - to acquire resources and technologies that are in keeping with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and attempts to provide reasonable accommodations to customers with disabilities upon request.
To help CRRL in honoring these commitments, we ask that you contact:
- Your local library branch, at the phone number or email listed here, with any questions regarding specific requirements or adjustments necessary for your visit. Library staff will attempt to accommodate the needs of users who identify as having a disability.
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Or Access Services at (540) 372-1144, ext. 7454 or 1-800-628-4807, or talking.books@crrl.org, opens a new window with any suggestions or comments about your experience using accessibility features at the library.
Assistive Tech
Many popular browsers also offer built-in accessibility tools and many assistive technologies are available at little to no cost.
Browser Accessibility
- Internet Explorer Accessibility Information
- Firefox Accessibility Information
- Chrome Accessibility Information
Accessibility Software
- Adobe Reader Accessibility website
- Latest Version of JAWS for Windows
- Latest Version of NVDA for Windows
- Latest Version of VoiceOver for Mac OS X
Assistive Devices
Local and State Agencies
Local and state agencies also offer assistive technology and services.
The disAbility Resource Center of the Rappahannock Area, Inc.
Virginia Department of Blind and Visually Impaired
Virginia Department of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
You can also learn more about the Virginia Disability Service Agencies through their Document Repository, which includes more detailed forms and applications.
Partnership & Donation Information
Access Services joins CRRL in working alongside our community partners. For more information about who these partners are and how to become one, read more here.
Access Services also joins CRRL in accepting donations. You can find a complete statement of the CRRL donation policy here.
Note: We ask that donations specifically for Access Services have features such as descriptive audio, captions, Brailling, or other accessibility features.
Contact Us
Access Services loves to hear from those who use or would like to use our services. We welcome invitations to present informational programs and participate in community events.
You can reach us by:
- Phone: 540-372-1144, ext. 7454 or 1-800-628-4807
- E-mail: talking-books@crrl.org
- Visit: 806 Lyons Boulevard, Fredericksburg, 22406
