Library Services and Collections

Services for Persons with Special Needs

The Madison Public Library welcomes persons with special needs. If your particular needs are not addressed, please ask staff at any library location for assistance.

General Services | Services for Persons with Limited Mobility | Services for Persons Who Have Vision Impairment | Services for Persons Who Have Hearing Impairment | Building Accessibility | Equipment Rental

General Services

• Guidance in the use of the library and its resources.
• Assistance with adaptive equipment.
• Tours and informational visits for groups who have disabilties can be arranged.

Special Services for Persons with Limited Mobility

• Wheelchair available to use at the Central Library.
• Access to LINKcat library catalog and electronic databases of magazine and newspaper articles, reader's advisory resources, business information, and genealogy resources
• Telephone reference service (608-266-6350 Voice/TDD) or web-based live reference service.
• Home delivery on a monthly basis of library books, magazines, and books on cassette through Home Services (608-266-6314)
• Assistance with the National Talking Book Program for those who are unable to use books (608-266-6314)

Services for Persons Who Have Vision Impairment

• Large print book collection, semi-annual annotated lists of new large print books, and monthly lists of new additions to the large print collection.
• Large print and voice computerized catalog at the Central Library.
• Books on cassette, with regular lists of new titles.
• Public photocopiers with enlargement features.
• Telephone reference service (608-266-6350)
• Magnicam video magnifiers to use with your own television are available from Central and all branch libraries.
• A variety of magnifying devices available for loan at the Central Library.
• Voice described entertainment videos.
• Reading Edge print-to-voice computer at the Central Library.
• Assistance with the National Talking Book Program (266-6314)
• Text size feature on Madison Public Library web site and adherence to web accessibility guidelines.

For books we don't have or can't get in Braille, consult the Volunteer Braillists and Tapists organization in Madison

Services for Persons Who Have Hearing Impairment

• TDD (voice/text telephone) reference services for persons with disabilities, 608-266-6314.
• Instructional sign language books and videos.
• Closed captioned entertainment videos.
• Sign language interpreters provided for library programs and meetings with advance notice.

Building Accessibility

Electronic doors and street graded access available at all sites.

Accessible bathrooms available at:

Central Library (Schwab Building)
Ashman Branch
Hawthorne Branch
Lakeview Branch
Meadowridge Branch
Pinney Branch
Sequoya Branch
South Madison Branch

Accessible meeting rooms or programming space available at:

Central Library (Schwab Building)
Ashman Branch
Hawthorne Branch
Lakeview Branch
Meadowridge Branch
Pinney Branch
Sequoya Branch
South Madison Branch

See meeting room policies and capacities.