Disability

Assistive technology at State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria offers assistive technology from two zones:

The Quad the study-space nearest to the Swanston Street entrance.

Redmond Barry Reading Room, the study-space nearest to the Russell Street entrance.

See also our Access & Inclusion page on our website.

 

Read and Write   

This is software to assist with reading or manipulating text.

To use it, click on the icon and open the toolbar.

Learn more about the Read and Write toolbar.

This software is available on all 4 assistive technology computers

 

Zoom text 

This software allows computer users with low vision to see, hear and use everything on Windows desktops, laptops and tablet devices. 

The ZoomText frequently asked questions are very helpful. There is more information at the ZoomText Help Centre.

To use this software onsite at State Library Victoria, put on headphones and click on the ZoomText icon.  This software is available on all 4 assistive technology computers

 

NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access)

NVDA is a free and open-source, portable screen-reader for Microsoft Windows.

It was created by a registered charity and software development company called NV Access. Read what they say about NVDA. The NVDA site has more information, and very good help pages.

This software is available on all 4 assistive technology computers

 

Dragon Dictation Software

Dragon is a 'word to text' speech recognition software.

It is available on computer number 2 in the Quad.

You need to use the headphones to use Dragon. You need to speak clearly and in full sentences.

If you view the tutorial and run the software you can create a basic document on Word. You can save this to your own USB.

If you want to develop more skills with Dragon, you can subscribe to the software, or buy it yourself to use at home.

For a tutorial on how to use Dragon, created by Phizz Telford, Digital Resources Graduate Librarian, click on the document below:

Pearl reader

Pearl is a text reader.

The unit has a camera and headphones.

It sits on the left, next to computer #4 in the Redmond Barry reading room and computer #1 in the Information Centre.

To use the Pearl reader, put a book or text under the camera lens. There is nothing to turn on. It does not have a light. 

Put on the headphones that come with the Pearl camera. 

 

Instructions:

1. Place item against bottom frame of Pearl Reader.

2. Double click to launch 'Open Book' software. A blank window will appear.

3. Press 'space bar' to capture image of book page or text under Peal Reader.

4. Wait for camera sound, the document will be read out loud immediately after.

 

Keyboard Shortcuts:

'Space Bar' for image capture.

'Ctrl' for pause reading.

'Ins+down arrow' to resume reading.

'Alt+F4' to close program, option to save will also appear.

How to find medical information

a guide to medical and health resources at the Library

School and education history in Victoria

a guide to help research into education in Victoria

Photograph of the Information Centre

Photograph of the Pearl reader and an assistive technology computer

Photograph of the Redmond Barry Reading Room