Serving the whole community

Torbay Library Services is committed to serving the whole community.

The Inclusion Services unit aims to reach out to people who are unable to use the regular service, or who are unaware of what the service has to offer them.

Based at Torquay Central Library, the unit is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

For further information on any of the services listed here, you can contact: Inclusion Services Co-ordinator on 01803 208294.

Help with reading and writing

Torbay Library Services is totally committed to lifelong learning. Each of our libraries has a collection of books to help with all levels of reading and writing.

We work closely with Skills for Life tutors to encourage students to use the library service and we are able to put you in contact with them.

We are happy to show parties of students around their local library.

Services for people with physical disability

All of the libraries in Torbay have access for people with a physical disability and each library holds a wealth of information on disabilities in areas such as education, transport and benefits. Our Reference & Information Library will be happy to help with your queries; alternatively, telephone the Inclusion Services Co-ordinator.

You may also be entitled to concessions: please see our Library Charges pages for more information.

If you have a visual impairment, you may benefit from:

• large print books
• spoken word cassettes and CDs
• music CDs
• free reservations
• reading aids

All of our libraries have a wide range of material suitable for both adults and children with a visual impairment. You may borrow spoken word cassettes and CDs and music CDs free of charge for 21 days.

For Torbay residents, we can arrange subscriptions to the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) Talking Book Service. The RNIB website will be able to give you information on other services the RNIB provides, together with general advice and assistance.

We can also arrange subscriptions to the National Library for the Blind, who will lend books in Moon and Braille. Additionally, we subscribe to Clear Vision, an organisation which supplies us with Braille books for children.

Every month, Torquay Central library hosts a book review club for visually impaired people. For more information please contact the Inclusion Services Co-ordinator or have a look at our Events & Activities page.

Services to residential / nursing homes and sheltered accommodation

If you own or live in a retirement complex, we can arrange to have deposit collections delivered to you. The Inclusion Services Co-ordinator will visit you to discuss your residents' requirements, and you will then receive a deposit collection every 10 weeks, tailor–made to suit your readers' needs.

Services to housebound people

Cooperation with the voluntary agency "Brixham does Care" enables a library service to be provided to some housebound residents in Torbay. If you think you would benefit from this service, or you think you know someone who may, please contact the Inclusion Services Co-ordinator.

Books while you are in hospital

We provide library books and spoken word tapes to Paignton and Brixham hospitals, where volunteers regularly visit the wards with a selection of books and tapes.

Prime Time - the club for older adults

Bi-monthly, the Library Service hosts a club for older people at Paignton library. Demonstrations of arts and crafts and invited speakers - addressing a range of subjects - make for an interesting afternoon. For information on upcoming meetings have a look at our Events and Activities page.

To view any published Related Documents for this service you will require the appropriate software. To download this software please see our documents help page. All links to documents will open in a new window. To request documents and files in an alternative format please contact us using the contact information provided on this page.