A robotic voice emanates from the computer screen, reading back the sheet of paper Debra Mandel, head of the Media Services Center, just scanned in.

Although normally the Kurz-weil 3000 program is intended for use by the sight impaired, Mandel is giving a demonstration of the capabilities of the library’s Assistive Technology center. She points out that the computer has different voices and speeds, which are subject to change based on user preference.

“When I see people use it, they tend to pick a fast speed, faster than we would talk because they’re so quick to comprehend,” said Edward Warro, dean and director of the university libraries, while watching over Mandel’s shoulder.

The Assistive Technology center is primarily divided into two rooms, both located on the first floor of Snell Library. The larger of the two, 119 Snell, houses two computers equipped with programs to aid those with low vision, blindness, reading disorders and learning disabilities, as well as a magnification system to make words and documents easier to read. The smaller room, 118 Snell, is specifically established for the sight impaired, aiding with conversion of documents into Braille or vice versa. In addition to the two rooms, the Media Center purchases closed caption VHS, laserdisc and DVD titles for the hearing impaired.

“We really have a commitment at the library to freedom of information,” Warro said. “I keep dealing with the concept of information as a human right … well, disabilities can keep people from getting information. So we really feel we have a responsibility to make information available. There’s a philosophical underpinning to it, as well as a diversity commitment which is part of our community. We have to do what’s necessary to provide the information.”

In October 2002, the library received the Library Services and Technology Act grant and began building a reputable Assistive Technology center.

Over the course of two years, the technology increased and staff readiness to assist those with disabilities rose after training sessions.

The money was well spent – the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners recently recognized the Assistive Tech-nology program as an exemplary project.

“What stood out to the local funding agency was the fact that we provided excellent training and we were able to serve not only the university but also the Boston community’s needs,” Mandel said. “We’re providing an important vehicle for people to learn about the technology. People are coming here to learn about it, to see what they want to do in their institutions, to see what they need in their homes and offices. The granting agency saw this as an exemplary project.”

Support from the library’s administrative offices as well as the grant company were crucial to the progress of the project, Mandel said.

“[The grant was] based on the reputation of Northeastern – they wanted us to get the grant, they thought that we were perfectly poised to get it,” she said. “So having support from both inside the library and outside the library has been incredibly empowering. For that reason we set the bar very high in everything we did.”

Since its opening, the Assistive Technology center has been “well-received,” Mandel said. This year, she said she estimates about 40 students regularly use the facilities per month, ranging from one to 10 users per day. Mandel said the students usually have no trouble adapting to the technology, that is, if they don’t already know how the programs work.

“What often happens with disabled students is they come from high school already trained in how to use this technology and we’re the ones who have to learn how to use it,” Warro said.

Since the staff is often unfamiliar with the software and the needs of the students, they rely on student suggestions for what needs to be improved, Mandel said.

“Sometimes students bring things to our attention,” she said. “We’re very responsive to students who have the familiarity and experience already and are also very knowledgeable.”

The two-year grant will end this fall, but the program’s progress has set a precedent for the library and the university, Mandel said.

“We’re feeling very good about the progress we’ve made and now we have something that we can build upon, a very good foundation,” she said. “But this technology is still evolving. We’re never quite done with this project.”

Mandel said she hopes students take an active interest in the program as it continues to grow. She can be reached at (617) 373-4902 or [email protected].