Accessibility

In-Person Accessibility

Accessing the Building

The Topsfield Town Library is wheelchair accessible. There are no stairs to enter the building, and we have an elevator that stops on every floor, and both our service desks are wheelchair accessible. There are handicapped parking spaces available close to the library entryway. Every restroom in the library is handicap accessible. There are men’s and women’s restrooms located on the first floor, a children’s bathroom in our Children’s Room, and an all-genders restroom on the second floor.

You can access our reference services remotely; give us a call at (978) 887-1528×2000 or email us at ask@topsfieldlibrary.org.

Accessibility Equipment

A handheld magnifier and Merlin desktop magnifier are available for in-library use at our Reference Desk, which allows for magnification of print materials. Noise-canceling headphones are available at each service desk for in-library use. We have public computers for use; screen size can be adjusted according to your needs. Note: you can adjust the font size on our website by scrolling down to the footer, and clicking the bigger “A” for larger font, the smaller “A” for smaller font, of the middle “A” for the default size.

Children’s Room

Our Children’s Room features a fish tank (a good place to calm down when overstimulated), a sensory wall in the play area, and launchpads (kid-friendly tablets loaded with learning games and apps).

Collection

As a staff, we are committed to assisting you find the resources you need; please do not hesitate to ask us to locate an item, retrieve an item from our shelves, or place holds for you.

Large Print

The library owns large print materials for both adults and children. The adult Large Print books (both fiction and non-fiction) are located on the first floor; chidren’s large print materials are located in the Children’s Room.

Audiobooks

Audiobooks (fiction and non-fiction) are located on the first floor and in the Children’s Room in two different formats: CD or Playaway. Playaways are self-contained MP3 players that require only a AAA battery. They can be used with headphones, or listened to in the car by plugging in an auxiliary cable (available to borrow in the library)!

Digital Resources

The Library has e-books, digital magazines, and e-audiobooks available! They can be used without ever visiting the library. The font size can be adjusted on e-books, magazine pages can be expanded, and e-audiobooks can be sped up or slowed down.

Library of Things Materials

Our Library of Things collection expands the library’s collection beyond traditional books and movies. Among our offerings are Memory Kits (created for our patrons suffering from dementia, a talking kitchen timer and calculator for our patrons with vision impairments, mobile hotspots that afford internet access, and much more!

Home Delivery and Other Services

Home Delivery

The Topsfield Town Library and the Topsfield Council on Aging work together to offer free delivery of materials to residents unable to visit the library due to illness, immobility, or age. The library provides the materials and the Council on Aging drivers deliver them to your home.

If you are interested in this service, please call the Reference Desk at 978-887-1528 x2200.  You may also fill out a home delivery interest profile and return it to the Reference Desk by mail (1 South Common St., Topsfield, MA 01983) or by email.

Technology Assistance

Librarians are always available for technology help! Contact our reference desk to schedule a one-on-one session; we can help you with computer needs, using an e-reader, accessing digital material available to you, and much more!

Rapid Pickup

The library offers Rapid Pickup service: simply call ahead, and your requests will be waiting for you at the front of the library. No fuss, just grab and go! Great for when you are on the run.

Personalized Reading Recommendations

Not sure what you’re looking for? Rather browse from home? Did you know that the library offers personalized reading recommendations? Simply answer a couple of questions, and a librarian on staff will pick out 3-5 titles just for you.

Our Commitment to Website Accessibility

We are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We strive to ensure that all visitors can access information, services, and resources in an equitable and user-friendly manner.

Our goal is to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, which provide standards for making web content more accessible for people with disabilities.

Accessibility Features

This website may include accessibility features such as:

• Logical page structure and heading hierarchy
• Keyboard-accessible navigation and controls
• Alternative text for meaningful images
• Sufficient color contrast between text and background elements
• Accessible forms with properly associated labels
• Responsive design that adapts to various screen sizes and devices
• Clear and consistent navigation
• Focus indicators for keyboard users
• Support for screen readers and other assistive technologies
• Descriptive links and buttons

Ongoing Accessibility Efforts

Accessibility is an ongoing process. We regularly review and improve our website to enhance usability and accessibility for all users. These efforts may include:

• Automated accessibility testing
• Manual accessibility reviews
• Keyboard navigation testing
• Screen reader compatibility testing
• Content and design updates to address identified issues

Third-Party Content

Some areas of this website may include links to or content provided by third-party services, applications, databases, catalogs, event calendars, maps, or social media platforms. While we encourage these providers to offer accessible content, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of third-party resources that are outside our control.

Browser and Assistive Technology Compatibility

This website is designed to be compatible with current versions of major web browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. It is also intended to work with commonly used assistive technologies, including screen readers, screen magnifiers, and speech recognition software.

Need Assistance?

If you encounter an accessibility barrier, experience difficulty accessing content, or have suggestions for improving accessibility, please contact us.

When reporting an issue, please include:

• The page or URL where the issue occurred
• A description of the problem
• The device and browser you were using
• Any assistive technology being used, if applicable

We will make reasonable efforts to address accessibility concerns and provide requested information in an alternative format when possible.

Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continually improving the accessibility and usability of our website. As technology evolves and accessibility standards advance, we will continue to evaluate and enhance the user experience for all visitors.