Centre for Equitable Library Access

Logo for CELA, an accessible library service, providing books and other materials to Canadians with print disabilities

Go to CELA

What is CELA

The Okanagan Regional Library partners with the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) to provide additional accessible collections to customers with print disabilities and professionals who work with people with print disabilities in a format that works for them.

CELA has a growing collection of 700,000 items for all ages, including:

  • newspapers, magazines, books
  • audio, eAudio, eText, braille, printbraille, eBraille
  • English and French with some other languages
  • Bookshare, a US-based accessible online library for people with print disabilities.

Who Can Sign Up

The CELA collection is available to library customers with a print disability as defined in section 32 of the Canadian Copyright Act:

  • learning disability: an impairment relating to comprehension
  • physical disability: the inability to hold or manipulate a book
  • visual disability: severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes.

How to Sign Up

To register for CELA – first contact your local library branch to ensure your library membership status allows print disabled materials. Then either:

CELA is also available to educators and other professionals who work with people with print disabilities. To learn more and register, visit the Educator Access Program or Client Access Support Program page of the CELA website.

Find Books

Search or browse the collection on the CELA website.

There are several delivery options:

  • Online and download: read newspapers online and download books and magazines to your computer or mobile device
  • Download without a computer: download books and magazines directly to an internet-enabled DAISY player over a wireless connection
  • Delivery by mail: receive DAISY audio books and magazines on CD, embossed braille, or printbraille (children’s picture books with see through braille sheets added) by mail
  • Automatic selection: receive new books that match your interests.

CELA Help

Lots of help is available on CELA’s Help page including how to use the website and get started, information on devices and how to read, and FAQs.

Often the best help can be found by contacting CELA for assistance with your account, CELA services or materials:

  • Email: help@celalibrary.ca
  • Phone: 1-855-655-2273 (Hours: 5:00 AM to 4:30 PM Pacific Time, Monday to Friday)

Need Further Help?

Connect with Okanagan Regional Library’s Access Services staff:

eLibrary