Accessible architecture
Individuals with mobility impairments can access all areas of the Gdańsk Tech Library. The Main Building, along with other locations housing library branches, is equipped with lifts that facilitate entry for wheelchair users. The entrance to the Main Building features a photocell and an automatic door opening mechanism. Within the Main Building, accessible toilets for individuals with disabilities are located on every floor, positioned to the left of the main entrance. On Gabriela Narutowicza Street, there is one designated parking space for people with disabilities situated near the Main Building. Assistance dogs and guide dogs are permitted in all areas.
ZoomText Keyboard
The ZoomText Keyboard is available in two versions: one featuring white lettering on black keys and the other with black lettering on yellow keys. The high colour contrast and large lettering ensure that the keys remain visible even in low light conditions, making it suitable for individuals with visual impairments. This keyboard includes two USB ports, strategically located for convenience, allowing users to connect a pendrive, mouse, or LED lamp.
Users can quickly and easily access the most important functions of the ZoomText software by utilising the function keys. These functions include increasing and decreasing magnification through the Fusion programme, activating colour and cursor enhancements, turning speech on and off, as well as adjusting speech speed.
Located in: the Main Library and every library branch (20 items).
Big Track – enlarged computer mouse
This is a very large and robust computer mouse. Due to its size, it does not need to be operated with fingers. The mouse features two 3-centimetre buttons and a 7-centimetre trackball, which the user can manage without requiring precise hand movements. The size of the buttons, along with their contrasting colours, allows the mouse to be used by individuals with visual impairments.
Big Track includes functions that make it a valuable tool for users who may not possess the same movement abilities as those required to operate a standard computer mouse. The trackball is equipped with a blockade that enables the “press and drop” technique without necessitating the continuous holding of the button, thereby assisting individuals who have difficulty maintaining pressure on the mouse button.
Located in: the Main Library and every library branch (9 items).
Kensington SlimBlade Pro Trackball
Its low-profile design provides comfort and enhances work efficiency. Advanced laser tracking technology enables a high level of precision, which significantly improves cursor control and comfort during prolonged use. The trackball requires minimal arm and wrist movement and can be easily operated with a single finger. The smooth rotation of the large, multifunctional ball, with a diameter of 55 mm, allows for fast and precise scrolling of web pages and documents without the need to click.
Located in: The Main Library and every library branch (9 item).
RUBY XL HD – electronic magnifier
RUBY XL HD offers high-resolution images at every magnification level. It displays text in high quality and clear images with vivid colours, free from any distortions, even at the highest magnification. The panoramic, colourful, and bright screen, along with built-in LED lighting, allows the user to see the smallest details. RUBY XL HD is equipped with six easily palpable, large buttons: a blue button with an arrow pointing up for the next colour mode; a blue button with an arrow pointing down for the previous colour mode; a green-yellow power button; a yellow button with a “+” sign for increasing the magnification level; a yellow button with a “-” sign for decreasing the magnification level; and a red button for freezing the screen (freeze frame). Twenty high-contrast colour modes allow the user to select the mode that meets their needs.
The freeze frame function has a useful feature of adjustable magnification. The internal memory of the magnifier can store up to 80 images, and it is possible to transfer saved images to a computer via the USB port. Additionally, the device offers adjustable reading lines and masks. The battery allows for three hours of continuous work.
Located in: Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics Branch Library; Faculty of Chemistry and Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics Branch Library (2 items).
Note: available for loan from the library staff.
PEARL – portable camera
The camera provides visually impaired users with instant portable access to printed materials and enables them to read enlarged text on a computer screen. It connects to the computer, scans the text, and captures an image of the printed material, which is then read aloud by a synthetic voice in cooperation with the OpenBook software. A notebook-sized reading material can be placed sideways, allowing Pearl to photograph both pages simultaneously while preserving the division between them. For larger formats, users can first photograph the even-numbered pages and then turn the book over to capture the odd-numbered ones. The camera is equipped with built-in LED lighting.
In automatic mode, Pearl senses movement and reacts by taking a photograph while reading the text each time a page is turned. The camera scans at a rate of 20 pages per minute. The OpenBook tool identifies columns and arranges them in a logical reading order. Users can add comments to the scanned text and highlight specific fragments. Files can be saved in multiple formats, including BRL and audio, and subsequently exported to other applications such as Microsoft Word or Notepad.
The camera offers a variety of options for viewing text. Users can modify the font style, size, spacing, and colour. They can compare the original document with the results of OCR conversion on a split screen, utilise masks, and spotlight individual words, which facilitates easier tracking of the text being read. Additionally, it is possible to change the language to read documents in English.
Located in: Faculty of Chemistry and Faculty of Applied Physics and Mathematics Branch Library (1 item).
Portable and stationary induction loops
Induction loop systems enhance the audio experience for individuals who use telecoil-equipped hearing aids. One of the primary advantages of this system is that it eliminates the need for additional receivers. The signal transmitted through the electromagnetic field reaches the hearing aid device directly and can be received within a radius of up to 1 metre from the device. The induction loop significantly improves sound quality by reducing surrounding noise, allowing individuals with hearing impairments to work in more comfortable conditions.
Library branches equipped with induction loops: Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Library Branch; Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology Library Branch; Faculty of Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics Library Branch; Lending Library; Main Library Hall.
Neurodiversity
People with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorders, may experience significant difficulty concentrating in noisy environments. Loud and crowded spaces lead to excessive sensory stimulation, which negatively impacts their well-being and learning effectiveness. To address the needs of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, the Gdańsk Tech Library has installed acoustic cabins in various locations throughout the Library. With their excellent sound insulation, these cabins provide an ideal setting for both individual and group work (maximum of four people). The cabins are equipped with adjustable ventilation to ensure a constant supply of fresh air, as well as LED lighting that can be tailored to individual preferences and a 230V socket. User comfort is further enhanced by comfortable sofas featuring sound-absorbing upholstery in soothing shades of grey. Transparent glass allows natural light to enter the cabin The acoustic cabins are located in the Main Library Hall and the Main Reading Room in the Main Building.
Additionally, the Main Reading Room is equipped with acoustic armchairs which effectively reduce noise and create a physical and mental barrier against external distractions thanks to moveable screens.
