The Hoover Public Library strives to meet the standards required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for accessibility of facilities, programs and services by persons with disabilities. The Hoover Public Library will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services and activities.
Physical Disabilities
The library has a wheelchair and walker available for patron use. However, employees of the Hoover Public Library are not allowed to assist patrons with these devices. All devices must be returned to the front desk ten minutes before closing.
The Library Theatre is equipped with accessible seating. Accessible seating is identified to the same level or specificity as other seats on maps, seating charts, and brochures, and if asked, the location of all available accessible seating will be identified to patrons. A wheelchair user may purchase up to three additional tickets for seats in the same row that are contiguous with the wheelchair space, provided that at the time of purchase there are three such seats available. Accessible seats will only be released when all other tickets are sold out.
The library offers curbside services by appointment for patrons who, for whatever reason, are unable to enter the library to check out materials. To request curbside service, please click here to schedule a curbside appointment. While the library requests appointments be made 24 hours in advance to ensure materials are ready to be picked up, the library will honor same day requests by patrons with disabilities. To request same day curbside pickup, please call 205-444-7800.
There is a computer desk in the Technology Hub that is wheelchair accessible.
Visual and Hearing Impairments
The library has a collection of large print books and audiobooks for the visually impaired. Patrons unable to use standard print materials due to a visual or physical disability qualify for the services offered by the Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, located in the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) facility in Montgomery. The service provides special format reading materials, playback equipment and other library resources to qualifying users. Qualifying disabilities include blindness, low vision, arthritis, paralysis, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Reading disabilities resulting from an organic dysfunction such as dyslexia also qualify. Free mailing privileges are provided by the United States Post Office. There is no charge for any part of this service. Interested persons should call APLS at 1-334-213-3900 or 1-800-723-8459 or by visiting the APLS website, https://aplsws2.apls.state.al.us/library-for-the-blind/services/.
Hearing loops are available in The Library Theatre for the hearing impaired.
The library computers are equipped with the Microsoft Magnifier tool to enhance the images on the monitor screen. Also, the monitors are 23” in order to provide a large screen to accommodate this magnification.
Sensory Sensitivity
The library is a Kulture City certified facility and provides sensory tools (headphones, fidget gadgets, etc.) at each public service desk. There is also a Family Room located in the Children’s Department that can serve as a quiet space for patrons experiencing sensory overload.
Service Animals
Service animals (dogs and miniature horses) are welcome at the library. Emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals and therefore cannot enter the library.
The library employs Libby, a facility dog trained by FIDOS, who works at the library to bring joy, comfort and provide postitive interactions with patrons and staff. She greets patrons, attends library events and provides a stress-relieving environment for struggling readers. Libby will be on leash while in the public’s presence and will leave the area if a service dog is present.
Website Accessibility
The Hoover Public Library is committed to ensuring that our website is accessible and readable to as many people as possible, regardless of ability. While the Hoover Public Library strives to meet these regulations, we recognize that increasing our accessibility is a continual work in progress. We strive towards finding solutions and enacting practices, which will bring our entire site up to the same standards, as soon as possible.
If you cannot fully access the information on any page on our website, please contact the library at ADARequests@hooverlibrary.org and let us know. We will then seek to accommodate your accessibility request as soon as possible.
Employment
The Hoover Public Library does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA.
Additional Assistance
The library is committed to following the requirements set forth by the ADA for Title II entities and welcomes requests for additional assistance. We will honor these requests to the fullest extent possible unless the requests result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of a program, service or activity or in an undue financial or administrative burden.
The Hoover Public Library will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs.
Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service or activity of the Hoover Public Library, should contact our library at ADARequests@hooverlibrary.org. To ensure availability, you are advised to make your request at least 72-hours prior to the meeting you wish to attend, but the library will honor walk in requests to the extent possible as required by the ADA.
Concerns that a program, service or activity of the Hoover Public Library was not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to ADARequests@hooverlibrary.org or by calling Library Administration at 205-444-7810. Our grievance procedure is detailed on page 46 of our Service Policies.