We are committed to making our buildings, collections, programs, and services accessible to all members of the community. Anyone encountering difficulties in making full use of the Library is encouraged to contact the Outreach Services Manager at 812-349-3103 or ada [at] mcpl.info. For more information, please see the Americans with Disabilities Act Notice.

AccessAbility - People with Disabilities Welcome We are a Dementia Friendly Location

The Downtown Library is recognized by the City of Bloomington’s AccessAbility Program and is certified as a Level I and Level II Dementia Friendly Business by the Alzheimer’s Resource Service.

 

Building Accessibility

Bloomington: The Downtown Library has three accessible parking spots in its lot. There are additional accessible metered spots on surrounding streets. Wheelchairs, rollators, and an electric mobility cart are available at building entrances and a public elevator provides access to all floors. Bloomington Transit's BTaccess can provide public transportation for people with disabilities. A contactless pickup window is available off of the parking lot, along with 24-hour material returns. Service animals are welcome.
  Downtown Building Map (PDF)

Ellettsville: The Ellettsville Branch has two accessible parking spots in its lot. A wheelchair and rollator are available at the building's main entrance. Service animals are welcome.

Southwest: The Southwest Branch offers two parking lots with accessible parking spaces and an elevator from the underground lot up to the Library. A wheelchair and rollator are available at the building's main entrance. Service animals are welcome.
  Southwest Branch Building Map (PDF)

 

 

Outreach Services

House Calls Service: We provide personalized delivery of materials to Monroe County residents who are unable to visit the Library due to physical disability, extended illness, or significant transportation problems. Items are selected based on patron requests and preferences, and are delivered once a month. This service is free to Monroe County residents.

Bookmobile: The Bookmobile is the Library on wheels! It offers ever-changing collections of high-demand materials for all ages including bestselling books, recent and classic movies on DVD, audiobooks, music CDs, magazines, and more. The Bookmobile also offers holds pickup, materials return, and staff information assistance. It has regular stops throughout Monroe County to make accessing materials more convenient for you.

Outreach Van Service: The Outreach Van provides library materials to residents of assisted-living and senior-living facilities. Using rolling carts, our staff set up a temporary mini-library in the lobby or activity room of facilities, and check out materials directly to patrons. Outreach Van patrons typically must be residents, staff, or approved guests of the facility being served, in accordance with the policies of each specific site.

 

Children's Services

Neurodiversity webpages provide several resources for teachers and caregivers of individuals who are neurodivergent with a focus on dyslexia and autism spectrum disorder.

 

Accessible Collections

 

Programs

We encourage people of all abilities to participate in our programming! If you need accommodations, you may indicate so when registering through the calendar, or by contacting the Outreach Services Manager at 812-349-3103 or ada [at] mcpl.info. Please make your request as early as possible, ideally at least a week prior to the event, so that we can make arrangements.

 

Caregivers

Caregivers of those who require assistance are welcome in age-restricted spaces such as The Ground Floor and the Ellettsville Teen Space. Please ask a staff member for a "Guide" nametag. Caregiver restrooms are available in the Downtown Library and Ellettsville Branch.

Hearing Loop: Switch hearing aid to T-coil

 

Assistive Listening

The Downtown Library Auditorium has a hearing loop system, allowing participants with compatible hearing aids and cochlear implants to receive the audio signal. Headphones with wireless receivers are also available.

For Library events in various meeting rooms, a portable assistive listening kit is available. This kit works with either your own compatible hearing aids or the Library's headphone sets. Just ask the program presenter or ask at any information desk.

 

Public Computing

All public computers run Windows and include Microsoft’s Ease of Access Center. Please ask a staff member for assistance in using these accessibility features.

 

Equipment

The Downtown Library provides access to an EVS electronic magnifier located in the VITAL Resource Room, on the second floor.

Reading glasses and magnifying glasses are available at customer assistance desks at the Downtown Library and Ellettsville Branch. We also offer free glasses in common strengths, many of which are donated by the Ivy Tech Optometric Technology program.

An Xbox Adaptive Controller and peripherals are available exclusively at the Downtown Library in The Ground Floor teen space. Designed primarily to meet the needs of gamers with limited mobility, the Xbox Adaptive Controller is a unified hub for devices that helps make gaming more accessible.

The Mobility Aids Lending Library (MALL) is a partnership between the Library, a group of local wheelchair users known as the Wheelie Women, and the City of Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility.  The MALL program matches "gently used" mobility devices free of charge to those who cannot afford them or only need them for a short period of time.  Canes, crutches, walkers, and rollators are available for checkout during regular library hours. Other mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and powered devices, may be available from our other MALL partners.