Staff Story

The Clay Center Carnegie Library received a new piece of equipment to help those who are visually impaired. A portable video magnifier was purchased by the Friends of the Clay Center Library on the recommendation of Dr. Tony Brown, an optometrist at Clarity EyeCare.

The portable video magnifier offers a way for users to enhance and enlarge text or other small items for better visibility. It can be used at the library or checked out to take home.

Dr. Brown said the device is helpful to those with sight issues, as magnifiers blur as they are zoomed in. In contrast, a video magnifier is made with a higher-quality camera that can blow up the size of text, without losing focus.

The Smartlux Digital model was purchased by the Friends of the Clay Center Library branch, a nonprofit organization that supports the library in its varying needs, and Dr. Brown facilitated the purchase through Eschenbach, the manufacturing company.

He also said keeping the device at the library means users can test it out for themselves before making a purchase of their own.

The video magnifier can enlarge images up to 15 times without losing focus. It also comes with a fast refresh rate, at 50 frames-per-second, so there is not a blur or delay as the device is moved. The function is ideal for reading.

The device will soon be available for use in the Clay Center Library.