DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 119 640 /R 003 101

TITLE Senior Aids for Senior Readers; A Visual AidsPamphlet for the Elderly.

INSTITUTION Houston Public Library, Tex.PUB DATE 75NOTE 24p.

EDRS PRICEDESCRIPTORS

MF-$0.83 HC-$1.67 Plus PostageGames; *Handicapped; Library Equipment; libraryGuides; Library Programs; *Library Services; PublicLibraries; *Senior Citizens; State Libraries; *VisualAids; Visually Handicapped

ABSTRACTA pamphlet on special aids for senior library users

lists items available from the Houston Public Library. Magnifiers(some illuminated), bedspecs (prism glasses), book holders, largeprint telephone dials, and games suitable for the visuallyhandicapped or bedridden are described. The library's collections ofslides and films, both 8mm and 16mm, are described, as are itsspecial services to the homebound and institutionalized and its booksby mail system. Mention is made of services available from the Texasstate library including large print and braille books and magazines,talking books and magazines, and special aids. A list ofmanufacturers is provided. (LS)

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08

H

Senior Aids

for

SenioReaders

A Visual Aids Pamphlet

for the,

ELDERLYU S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.EDUCATION &WELFARENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

EDUCATION

2

THIS DOCUMENT HAS /SEEN REPRO.DUCED ExACTLY AS RECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONSSTATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OFEDUCAT ON POSITION OR POLICY

Houston Public Library

INDEX

Magnifiers page 1

Bedspecs (Prism Glasses) page 4

Book Butler (Book Holder) page 4

Telephone Dial, Large Print page 5

Films, 8MM and 16MM page 5

Slides page 6

Games page 7

Texas State Library page 16

List of Manufacturers page 18

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

The Houston Public Library's AgingProgram, begun in September 1974, pro-vides special services to the elderlythrough three distinct agencies. The

branch-based program is located at CAR-NEGIE LI8RARY, 1209 Henry Street, Hous-ton, texas 77009 (Phone: 227-9177).

It is the aim of this branch library toserve those elderly living in the area

surrounding Carnegie. The Librarian,

Stephanie Ardito, provides home-boundservice, programs of interest to the

elderly, films, large print books, gamesmagnifiers, and a monthly newsletter.

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INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, located 4t3102 Center Street, Houston, Texas 77007(Phone: 869-9046), provides services to

1 county-wide places where the elderlygather or reside such as nursing homesor apartment houses. The Librarian,Sophie Beth Pettigrew, lends magazines,book materials, games, and magnifiers,gives book reviews, and shows films andslides to any interested group of"seniors".

Esther Faerber heads the thirdphase of the Aging Program called BOOKS-BY-MAIL. This agency provides mailservice to tnose who can not leave theirhomes to go to the library-. The borrow-er pays a very inexpensive return pos-tage and can obtain books, magazines,records, cassettes (all four alsoavailable in Spanish), games, or magni-fiers through this service. One may

obtain more information by going orwriting to 3102 Center Street, Houston,Texas 77007, or by calling 869-0318.

*The following aids may be borrowedfrom any of the preceding agencies.

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MAGNIFIERS

Folding Pocket MagnifierA wide range of sizes and powersmake this style of magnifier afavorite among users. One smallunit can provide from 3 to 7different magnifications.

Illuminated Rectangular ReaderLight allows better seeing ofsmall detail.

Cylindrical MagnifierRests directly on material andcovers long lines of print.

1104,,41,

5

Magna -Lux Macon ifier

Handy for desk, work table, oryour pocket. Practically unbreak-able, its 2-power lens scales 4inches. Can also be used as aletter opener.

2

Round Reader

Comfortable to hold for long use.

Attached Case Magnifier2-power lens which swings intothe case for protection. Caseserves as a handle when the mag-nifier is in use.

6

Packette Mapifier3-power lens snaps open for use,clicks shut for carrying. Han-

dy for pocket, purse, or desk.

Illuminated Stand MagnifierLeaves hands free to look atsmall objects such as coins andstamps. Extremely useful withhobbies and crafts. Both thelens and 115-volt lamp are ad-justable. lr

7

BEDSPECS

Bedspecs, or prism glasses, angle

your vision just right for seeing down

while looking up. One can read in per-fect comfort while confined to a bed in

a home or hospital. Can be worn with

or without regular glasses.

11111..-_

BOOK BUTLER (BOOK HOLDER)

Restful reading while one is lying

on his or her back. Relaxed reading in

bed while in sitting position. Quickly

removed in any position.

5

TELEPHONE DIAL, LARGE PRINT

Made of durable white plastic,with large raised black numerals, thisdial will fit standard telephones.Tape on the back of the dial must beremoved so that it will adhere to the,

telephone. This item is free upon

request.

FILMS, 8MM and 16MM

8MMOver 500 8MM films are located atINSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, 3102 Center

Street, Phone: 869-9046. Subjects

range from Mack Sennett, Abbott &

Costello, Charlie Chaplin, W.C.Fields, Buster Keaton, Laurel &Hardy, Mabel Normand, Will Rogersand The Three Stooges comedies toanimal, history, horror, religion,

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sports, westerns, travel, and WaltDisney films. One should call a dayor so before requesting a film and maypick it up at Institutional. Servicesor arrange to obtain it at theirnearest branch library. Films maybe returned through thr mail at LibraryRate or returned to InstitutionalServices or the nearest branch library.There is no limit on the amount offilms to be borrowed.

16MM

A wide range of subjects is also avail-able on 16MM films. There are travelfilms, educational films, and recrea-tional films. These are located atthe CENTRAL LIBRARY, 500 McKinneyAvenue, Phone: 224-5411. Call orstop in for more information on check-out procedures.

SLIDES

Slides are located with the 8MMfilms at INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES. Check-out procedures are the same. Subjectsrange from travel, scenery, plants,

7.,

to animals. In some instances, theInstitutional cervices Librarian has

made cassette recordings to accompany

the slides or is able to lend out re-

cords.

*Catalogs of films and slides may

be obtained from InstitutionalServices, Central Library, orany branch library.

GAMES

BackgammonRaised and depressed rectanglesenable the Backgammon pieces to fit

snugly in the raised and lower areas.

Those with poor eyesight will easily

be able to.stack men on the same

point. Object of the game is to

move all your men from your oppowant's

inner house clockwise around and off

the board through your own inner

house. A game can last a half hour

to several hours depending on one's

strategy. Can be played by blind

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persons.

8

pinooBoard has recessed white squaresthat contain large black printnumerals and braille symbols.

*Any of these games can be borrowedfrom Houston Public Library. CallBOOKS-BY-MAIL (869-0318), CARNEGIEBRANCH LIBRARY (227-9177), or INSTI-

I TUTIONAL SERVICES (869-9046).

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Cards Jumbo

Available are the standard decksand pinochle decks. Oversizedsymbols and numbers are most help-ful for persons with impairedvision.

Checker SetBoard is 12" square with recessedand sunken 1" squares. Round andsquare men distinguish sides forthose with sight problems.

ik ik

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W***

Chess SetBoard has raised and lowered squares.Men are equipped with metal pegswhich fit into holes on the board.Colors are distinguished by having

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"flats" sanded' on the white.

10

Chinese Checkers

A two-part board measures 12" squarewith the playing area able to be re-moved from the base. Six different-ly shaped sets of men are providedfor easy identification.

14

111

Cribbage BoardA brown aluminum board with raisedscoring holes for easy location.Sliding tray underneath holdsscoring pegs which are marked

1

for identification. Rubber "feet"prevent table top scratches.

Dominoes

Standard 28-piece set of heavyduty, plastic. Very prominentraised black "dots" contrast witha white background.

Yeillilligallitill44""""="

15

12

Hi-Q Puzzle

Plastic pegs fit into holes in theboard. One of the 33 holes is leftblank at the start. Object is toremove all pegs except one, byjumping as in checkers. An excel-lent solitaire game which can beplayed with many variations.

Monopoly.

Object of the game is to collectmore wealth than your opponents. Allproperty names and selling prices areoverlayed in braille. The CommunityChess and Chance cards are combinedBraille and inkprint and are 3" by5". Money is also in braille, so thegame can easily be played by blindand/or sighted persons. The dicehave raised dots.

.1111.1111116%

16.

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Nine Men's.MorrisPlayed by two players, the objectis to get three men in a row, whichentitles player to remove one ofopponent's men. The game is overwhen all of one player's men havebeen removed.

Rack-0A card game where the object is tobe first to replace cards in yourrack by drawing cards from the pile,so that numbers read in any numeri-

cal progression from Low to High.Can be played by two, three, orfour players as partners.

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14

RookBasic card game with 23 variations.Object is to be the first player toreach game score by capturing

"tricks". Usually several handsmust be played before there is awinner.

Score FourSimilar to Tic-Tac-Toe except that'it is played in three dimensionsand four rows. Object is to. posi-

tion four men of the same shape ina straight line on any level and

any angle.

1,8

ScrabbleGame can be played by blind and/orsighted persons. Braille symbolshave been placed on top of the

regular board. Tiles, inkprintand braille, fit securely into theboard. 'Board is easily revolvedwhen placed on a flat surface.

Tic-Tac-ThreeFollows the rules of Tic-Tac-Toe,but has many more variations andcan be played by two or moreplayers.

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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY

The Texas State Library Division forthe Blind and Physically Handicapped,Box 12927 Capitol Station, Austin, Texas78711, will provide a range of materialsto any person who cannot read ordinaryprinted materials because of blindness,poor vision, or a physical disabilitythat prevents holding a book or turningits pages. Available are the "Reader'sDigest", "14ew York Times Magazine", andother magazines in large print; booksin braille or large print; talking books(recordings) and books and magazineson open reel and cassette tape. In

addition, one can obtain bibles, ency-clopedias, and dictionaries. A readermerely selects from a catalog what heor she wants to "read". Equipment andrepairs are supplied upon request. One

can'also request the use of magnifiers,

page turners, prism glasses, and readinstands. By calling the Library, areader can obtain forms and additionalinformation.

One: may als) call a toll free

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number, Monday through Friday from8 a.m. to 5 p.m., directly to TexasState Library at 1-800-292-9605.

TALKING BOOK MACHINE

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LIST OF MANUFACTURERS

American Foundation for the Blind15 West 16th StreetNew York, New York 10011

(Games, Telephone Dials, andSignature Guides)

American Printing House for the Blind1839 Frankfort Avenue (P.O. Box 6085)Louisville, Kentucky 40206

(Signature Guides, Various BrailleDevices, and Book Holders)

Bausch and Lomb

1 Lincoln First SquareRochester, New York 14601

Phone: (716) 232-6001

(Readers and kagnifiers)

Bernell Corporation314-316 South EddySouth Bend, Indiana 46617

(Bedspecs or Prism Glasses)

G.E. Miller, Inc.484 South Broadway

Yonkers, New York 10705

(Book Butlers or Book Holders)

22

19

Houston Trunk Factory727 Main Street (main office, other

locations)Houston, Texas 78205

(Readers and Magnifiers)

*Catalogs supplied upon request fromany of these organizations.

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HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY AGENCIESSERVING YOU

Esther Faerber, LibrarianBOOKS-BY-MAIL3102 Center Street

Houston, Texas 77007

Phone: 869-0318

Stephanie Ardito, LibrarianCARNEGIE BRANCH LIBRARY1209 Henry StreetHouston, Texas 77009

Phone:' 227-9177

Sophie Beth Pettigrew, LibrarianINSTITUTIONAL SERVICES3102 Center StreetHouston, Texas 77007

Phone: 869-9046

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