The N.H. Historical Society's Tuck Library materials are now more accessible for the visually impaired, thanks to the gift of a closed circuit television (CCTV) generously provided by the N.H. Association for the Blind. Easy to use, the machine will magnify a book or manuscript anywhere from four to 40 times. The image appears on a television screen in front of the viewer. With the aid of this device, people with poor vision often are able to read.

Even people with 20/20 vision can benefit from the CCTV. Society Librarian Bill Copeley tested the new machine recently, using it to read a miniature almanac from 1835. He watched in amazement as the tiny script sprang into view on the screen in letters three inches tall. "We've always dreamed about getting such a machine, but it just wasn't within the budget," Copeley said. Valued at about $2,000, the machine can not only alter the size of the printed letters, but also can vary the contrast of the material by presenting white letters on black background or black letters on a white field.

"People who have low vision are going to need this kind of a machine to make a difference," said Guy Woodland, Vice President for Rehabilitation at the N.H. Association for the Blind. "I couldn't read without it."

Dedicated to advancing the independence of persons who are visually impaired, the N.H. Association for the Blind is a resource for the 40,000 New Hampshire residents living with significant visual loss, a figure expected to double in the next decade as people age. Thanks to a creative community partnership, the Society's Tuck Library is now better equipped to meet the needs of this growing population.

The N.H. Historical Society is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing New Hampshire History through the Museum of New Hampshire History and the Tuck Library, both in Concord. The Tuck Library, at 30 Park Street, is one of northern New England's finest resources for genealogical research. Stop in soon and try out the CCTV machine as you investigate your family history or your town's past. For more information call (603) 228-6688 or visit the Society online at www.nhhistory.org.

-Reprinted with permission from the
N.H. Historical Society