Visiting Library Service

Through our Visiting Library Service, Guelph Public Library provides complimentary delivery of library materials to people who are unable to visit the library in person due to a physical or visual disability, or long-term illness. Home delivery service is available to library members with a current Guelph Public Library card.

Popular print materials, large print, audiobooks, DVDs and music CDs will be selected at the client's request by our Visiting Library Service Coordinator.

These materials can be delivered and returned by a library volunteer, or sent to a convenient branch or Bookmobile stop for a family member to pick-up. A volunteer will be provided by the coordinator upon request.

For further information regarding this service, please contact the Information Department, 519-824-6220. The Visiting Library Service application form may be filled out and returned to any library location.

Alternative Formats

The Guelph Public Library provides a variety of accessible formats and adaptive technology.

For those who require larger print within the library, we have an in-house magnifier for print books, and adjustable larger fonts on our computer catalogue terminals.

The library also offers audiobooks in various formats for library members who wish to listen to books. Available formats include our Playaways, prerecorded audio players containing unabridged audiobooks. Each library location also offers fiction and non-ficton collections of books on CD.

If you are visually impaired and the Guelph Public Library does not own the audiobook you would like to read, we can get it for you from another library through our Interlibrary Loan service. Please ask the Information Department for details, or contact our Interlibrary Loan Department.

Digital audiobooks are also available to download to your computer or device. Instruction is available for anyone who wishes to learn how to download digital audiobooks and/or eBooks to their own device from our collection of free downloadable books. Contact the Information Department for information about instructional sessions.

Kobo Readers can be borrowed with preloaded ebooks in a variety of genres suitable for every reading interest. Both fiction and non-fiction titles are available. Several dozen books can be carried home weighing less than a pound.

Sony eReaders can also be borrowed. These eReaders are not currently loaded with eBooks and users can pick their own titles via GPL's OverDrive catalogue. Please speak to our Information Staff for more details.

The Guelph Public Library has partnered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) to offer a deposit collection of DAISY MP3 format audiobooks restricted to visually impaired library members. Please contact Extension Services at gduffin@library.guelph.on.ca for further information about this collection.

Bookmobile

Possibly our most high-profile delivery system is the Bookmobile, beloved by Children, New Canadians and Seniors. The Bookmobile's many stops throughout the City of Guelph, including daycare centres and seniors residences, offers those who may not be able to come to the library access to all of our services and collections.