The Henry Bloom Noble Library is joining forces with the Manx Blind Welfare Society to raise awareness of sight loss conditions and demonstrate specialist equipment available for the visually impaired.

On Thursday 17th September, from 10am to 4pm, Society representatives will be on hand in the library with equipment ranging from the simple to the high tech.

They will also be alerting sighted people to the problems faced by the visually impaired, through the use of simulation spectacles that dramatically demonstrate the effects caused by a variety of eye conditions.

MBWS’s Doreen Smith said, "We find these spectacles have a profound impact when we deliver visual impairment awareness training.

"We will also be displaying a full range of electronic magnification equipment including hand-held pocket viewers, a monomouse that magnifies onto an ordinary TV screen and the very latest high tech CCTVs that can magnify large tracts of text or photos, for example, onto an inbuilt screen.

"All of this equipment can help when conventional magnifiers are no longer useful.

"Not all the equipment we’ll be displaying will be high tech, though.

"There are talking watches and clocks, a signature guide to help with signing forms, etc, and a liquid level indicator to prevent overfilling of cups or drinking glasses – all which help people with sight loss problems maintain their independence.’

"From Friday 11th September through to Thursday 17th, the Society will have a display stand on the ground floor of the library with information leaflets, details of support groups for all major eye conditions causing sight loss, the charity’s own leaflets detailing its services and copies of its quarterly newsletter.

Borough librarian Jan Macartney said, "Partnering with the Manx Blind Welfare Society is yet another means for the library to engage with the wider community and follows our work with the DHSS on a number of awareness-raising initiatives.

"In our own small way, we at the library do what we can to help the visually impaired through the provision of large-print books and books on tape, CD, MP3 and Playaways, pre-loaded digital audio books.

"We’re therefore delighted to have this opportunity to promote the magnificent work done by the Manx Blind Welfare Society, a charity deeply committed to furthering the interests of those with sight problems."

Pictured: Jan Macartney, Borough Librarian.