C-pen helps those with reading or vision difficulty

The Tuscarawas County Public Library System has added c-pen readers to its library collection. The portable device reads text aloud through a human-like, digital voice.

“We purchased these pens in an effort to increase the readability of our library’s items,” assistant director Andrea Legg said. “The user simply scans the pen over a line of text — no matter the font — and the pen will read the words aloud.”

The readers will be available to customers at each of the county library’s five locations: Main, Bolivar, Strasburg, Sugarcreek and Tuscarawas. These can be checked out to the public for two weeks at a time.

The county library hopes the circulation of the c-pen will increase the accessibility of the library collection to users who may have reading or vision difficulties.

“We want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy reading,” Legg said. “The pen is designed to promote independent learning and is a major technological breakthrough for anyone suffering from reading difficulties such as dyslexia or limited vision.”

Legg said the c-pen readers the library purchased also are equipped to read French, Spanish and English languages.

For more information about the library’s c-pen readers, call the library at 330-364-4474 or visit the library website at www.tusclibrary.org.