Vivacity: libraries for all

Anyone should be able to experience the joy of books and Vivacity’s libraries have the resources to ensure that happens

Library Link
Simply getting to the library isn’t possible for some. If that includes you, Vivacity’s Library Link service may be able to help, by bringing books and talking books direct to your home. Jo Henderson is the Vivacity’s Library Link Coordinator: ‘I go out to meet new users of the service to explain how it works, find out their likes and dislikes, and establish the best way of getting the books to them. This may be via the mobile library or through a volunteer who delivers the books in person. It’s the volunteers who usually select the books from the library too, so over time they can get a better idea of what their client really enjoys.’
● To find out more, ask a member of library staff or call Jo Henderson on 01733 864167, leaving your name, phone number and a short message. You can also email

Loud and clear
All Vivacity libraries have a selection of large-print and audio books available to borrow for the visually impaired. As well as fiction, there are non-fiction and biographical titles too. Audio books can be borrowed as CDs, put onto portable MP3 players, or a member of staff can help to download them onto a memory stick. Many additional titles are also available by request. Central Library also run a reading group for people with sight loss, where members of the group use audio books from RNIB. Members read the same book and get together for a lively discussion over a cup of tea or coffee. Facilitated by Vivacity library staff and volunteers who will meet you at the entrance.
● For more information contact or telephone 01733 864277. ● www.vivacity-peterborough.com/library-archives

Take a tour
One of Vivacity’s tour guides, Claire Richarson, set up ‘Tour for All’ when she realised there was no provision for people with disabilities on the city’s heritage tours. ‘Tour for All’ is just as the name suggests, but I’ve made particular effort to make it suitable for the deaf and blind. So, it’s also a touch tour,’ explains Claire. ‘Old buildings have features you just don’t get in modern buildings – a boot scraper, for example. But if you’ve never been able to see, it’s unlikely anyone would have stopped to point it out to you! The tour emphasises the features in plain sight but that are usually overlooked. We focus on the tiny details. For example, in the porch of St Johns Church there’s a beautiful stained glass window and those with partial sight can take time to touch the lead.’

The tour follows a fully accessible, wheelchair-friendly route. It’s also more flexible than traditional tours, so people can simply drop off a tour if they get too tired. ‘The tour is meant for all abilities and can be adapted to meet the individual needs of the group, so each one’s unique. We include enlarged pictures of the route for the partially sighted or, for example, so that people with autism can see exactly where they’re going next. It’s designed to remove all obstacles and make everyone as relaxed as possible.’ The tour takes in many of Peterborough’s heritage sites, such as the cathedral grounds (great for feeling the graffiti), St John’s Church and, of course, the museum where the tour begins. Each tour takes up to 10 people, plus their carers.
● ‘Tour for All’ runs on the first Saturday of the month at 10.30am ● All tours start at Peterborough Museum on Priestgate ● Cost: £5, carers free ● Simply turn up or pre-book on 01733 864663

And there’s more…
Keep an eye out for performances throughout the year designed for patrons with a variety of disabilities. Fingersmiths return to the Key from Mon 12-Wed 14 Feb with their fantastic blend of visual physical theatre performed in British Sign Language (BSL) and spoken and performed by deaf and hearing actors.

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