Services for Special Needs

Homebound delivery is available to residents of incorporated Des Plaines who are permanently or temporarily disabled. A library staff member selects materials for each patron, based on his or her needs and interests. Volunteers deliver materials on a biweekly or monthly basis. If you qualify for this service, fill out the application. A staff member will call you to work out the details.

Deposit collections are available to residential institutions in incorporated Des Plaines whose residents cannot be serviced by the main or Mobile Library. Collections are put together to meet the needs of the residents and are refreshed on a regular basis. Applications are available at the library or online.

Large Type Books and Audiobooks

The library offers a wide variety of large type books and audiobooks. Large type books are set in print that makes reading easier for some individuals. Audiobooks, both on cassette and compact disc, are either abridged (a shortened version) or unabridged (the entire book). These materials are on the third floor. For assistance, call the Readers’ Services Desk at 847-376-2840.

Voices of Vision  

Persons with visual or physical impairments can borrow books and magazines on audiotape through Voices of Vision, a free service from a national network of libraries.

Described/Captioned Media Program  

The library also has information about the National Association for the Deaf's Described and Captioned Media Program, a free service that provides hearing-impaired individuals with a selection of movies and documentaries on videotape. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.

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