Residents will discover new opportunities for engagement and access at Prescott City Council meetings beginning Tuesday, February 13. Prescott Public Library volunteers will be on hand to greet residents in the City Council Chambers foyer and offer assistive technology to individuals who have a hearing or vision loss. Four volunteers have participated in training that ranges from operation of “Listen” assistive hearing technology to accessibility features and mobile scanning on iPads. Volunteers will be present at each City Council meeting.
The You Too! volunteers will serve another function at Council meetings, offering all residents guidance about Council meeting protocol, orientating new attendees to City Council Chambers and providing agendas and agenda packets in print and digitally.
In 2017, Prescott Public Library was awarded a grant for portable assistive technology that offers individuals who have a vision or hearing loss access to training and portable technology. In conversation with area residents who have vision and hearing loss, library staff identified access to civic engagement – such as city government meetings – as a priority.
City Council meetings are just the beginning of the You Too! project. Through the grant, the library also offers:
- iPad minis with accessibility features, text-to-speech and captioning apps
- portable listening devices available at library programs
- library service desks with technology to facilitate communication
- personalized training on iPads and apps
- screen readers on all public computers
- lamps and magnifying lenses throughout the library
Prescott Public Library is also proud to partner with the City of Prescott Police Department, El Gato Azul and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Yavapai College (OLLI) to make this technology available throughout the community.
Prescott Public Library 928.777.1500 www.prescottlibrary.info
