Catherine Vanstone, assistant director of Bainbridge’s Southwest Georgia Regional Library, talked to the Bainbridge Lions Club Wednesday about the services the library provides for the blind and visually impaired, which the Lions serve nationally.

Following her address, Lions president Adele Cunningham presented Vanstone with a $500 check for the libraries blind and visually impaired section.

Our library for accessible services serves a 22 county area of Southwest Georgia,” Vanstone said. “Those accessible services include digital recorded books, readers advisory and public awareness service for persons with special needs and those who serve them.”

Vanstone further pointed out that if a person is unable to handle print books or turn pages because of a physical handicap they can also be served by the digital recorded books.,

Vanstone also told the Lions that the library’s talking book program includes books and magazines published in braille and recorded from cassettes.

She said that those braille recordings on cassettes are designed for readers who cannot hold, handle or see well enough to read conventional print due to a temporary or permanent visual or physical handicap.

Vanstone further told the Lions that materials are loaded free to eligible readers in the United States and U.S. citizens living abroad through a national network of state, and local including the Southwest Georgia Library for Accessible Services. Deposit selections are available for use by residents of nursing facilities, senior centers and schools.

Libraries served by the Southwest Georgia Library for accessible services in addition to the Southwest Georgia Regional Library include Baker, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Colquitt, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Grady, Lanier, Lee, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Quitman, Randolph, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, Webster and Worth.