The Rochester Hills Public Library was thrilled to accept the donation of a motorized scooter donated by Spectra Med, Inc. “This is a much needed item as the one scooter we own is in heavy demand,” said library director Christine Lind Hage.
After reading in the library’s newsletter that a second scooter was needed, Daniel and Teresa 
Stayer, owners of Spectra Med, Inc. in West Bloomfield, donated the scooter. Spectra Med Inc. has been serving Metropolitan Detroit with custom rehabilitation mobility and seating equipment, durable medical equipment and supplies and hands on physical therapy services since 1987.
In addition to now offering two motorized scooters, the library has a traditional wheel chair, two walkers and some mini-grocery carts for library visitors to use. “Our focus is to not only help people move throughout the library, but allow them the opportunity to try out a variety of assistive technology,” said Michelle Wisniewski, Outreach & Bookmobile Services Manager. “We believe that after trying out different mobility aids, people are better able to make the right decision regarding their own mobility options.”
Physical accessibility is only part of the challenge though. As people age, low vision issues increase and the library is all about helping people live and read independently for as long as possible. The library has developed a large type book collection that is continually growing in popularity. Many new books are released in multiple formats such as regular print, audio book, e-book and large type. The library purchases as many of the new releases as possible in large type.
When an individual is no longer comfortable reading large type, or the materials they want are not available in large type, the library offers a selection of magnifying lenses. These low vision aids may be checked out for 3 weeks at a time and are free. Some of the magnifying lenses are hand held, others are worn like glasses, while others stand on the table or lay on top of the reading material. The purpose of the low vision aid collection is to allow readers to try out different devices with different powers of magnification to determine which style and model will work best for them before they make a purchase.
When the magnifying lenses are no longer enough, the library has a handheld closed circuit camera that can be borrowed that allows an individual to scan an item and project it to a television monitor. In the library, there is a stationary model that is available for use.
The Rochester Hills Public Library also enrolls individuals eligible for service from the Library for the Visually and Physically Impaired. This is a national service that delivers talking books and magazines to an individual’s home. Anyone who is not able to read regular print for 5 minutes or more is a candidate for this free service, which is available nationwide.
While some people have mobility or vision issues, others are dealing with a hearing impairment. The library offers a text telephone (TTY) for people who have a hearing impairment. TTY users may contact the library’s TTY at 248-650-7153.
“The Rochester Hills Public Library and its resources belong to everyone in our service area and we want folks to be able to access the entire building. The scooters and other assistive technology resources make that possible for many people,” said Hage. The library staff is waiting and willing to help everyone get resources to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain the people of Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township.
Located in downtown Rochester off of University and three blocks east of Main Street, the library is open from 9 – 9 Monday through Thursday, from 9 – 6 on Fridays and Saturdays and from 1 – 6 on Sundays (during the school year). For more information on the library and its services go to www.rhpl.org
About Tom and Ann Gendich