News: Clark Co. Libraries (Federal Grant  - 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Adams, Wendt, Heiting

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 4/09/2014

Libraries (Fed. Grant for the Hearing Impaired - 9 April 2014)

Public libraries in Granton, Greenwood and Owen have been notified they will receive funding under a federal grant to provide enhanced customer service to the hearing impaired.

Last year, Abbotsford, Colby, Loyal and Thorp participated in a demonstration project by utilizing Library Services and Technology Act funds under a similar grant to install hearing loops at their service desks.

A hearing loop send a magnetic, wireless signal to personally purchased hearing aids equipped with a telecoil (or T-coil) setting that serves as a customized, wireless loudspeaker for the wearer.

T-coil technology provides a clear signal without any background noise. It is unobtrusive in a public service setting, thus enabling conversations that ensure privacy for hearing impaired individuals of all ages.

Installation of hearing loop systems at Clark County sites, as well as libraries in Antigo, Crandon, Laona, Medford, Rib Lake, Spooner, Stetsonville, Westboro and the Marathon County Public Library, Spencer and Stratford branches, is expected to take place during April and May.

The Wisconsin Valley Library Service (WVLS), a regional library system, is coordinating the project with Library Services and Technology Act funds awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Equipment and training will be provided by Consulting with Clarity of Colby.

For more information, contact Kris Adams Wendt, WVLS public library consultant, 715-261-7255 or kawendt@wvls.org,  or Kay Heiting, Granton Community Library director, 715-238-5250 or director@granton.lib.wi.us.