Libraries in Makhanda

Providing access to reading materials for people with visual impairments requires infrastructure most libraries don't have. Braille collections, audio book formats, and assistive technology need to be maintained separately and organised with precision—a reader using a screen reader or Braille display has different needs than someone selecting a physical book from a shelf. In Makhanda, where specialist services are limited, this library operates as one of the few places where someone who is blind or has low vision can independently locate and borrow materials. The work involves coordination with publishers producing accessible formats, ongoing training for staff on adaptive technologies, and maintaining equipment that lets visually impaired readers engage with the same range of books as anyone else.