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Minnesota Resource Libraries

 

Minnesota Resource Libraries is a statewide service providing information and resources to support families and educators in meeting the educational needs of Minnesota children and youth who have hearing, vision, or combined hearing and vision loss.

MN Resource Libraries Online Catalog

Patron Policy — Who is Eligible for Services?

  • Books and DVDs are available for loan to the general public (Minnesota residents).

  • The materials listed below are only available to licensed teachers and related service providers working with Minnesota students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH), Blind/Visually Impaired (BVI), and/or Deaf-Blind:

    • BVI Assistive Technology Loan Program Materials (BVI Licensed Teachers only)

    • BVI Braillers & Light Boxes (BVI Licensed Teachers only)

    • BVI Assessments and Curriculum

    • D/HH Assessments

Related Service Providers include: Audiologists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Interpreters, Interveners, Transliterators, Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists (COMS), and Transcribers.

Proof of Identification

When applying for an MNRL account, please provide:

  • Your occupation and the school, and the district you work for.

  • Licensed teachers will be verified through the Minnesota Department of Education Teacher Licensure Online Lookup:
    MDE Teacher Licensure Lookup

  • Students enrolled in higher education programs for D/HH, BVI, or O&M must state their program and institution.

Applying for a Library Account

To sign up for a free library account, please contact:

Matthew Kevan
MN Resource Libraries Director
mn.resource.libraries@msa.state.mn.us
 VP: 507-412-8904
 Voice: 507-384-6790

Once your account is set up, you will receive a confirmation email with your username and password to complete online ordering.

Circulation Loan Policy

Item Loan Period          Eligible Patrons
Books 4 weeks Public
DVDs 4 weeks Public
Assessments 6–9 weeks Certified/Licensed TBVI, COMS, DHH     
Braillers / Mini Light Boxes / Calculators         On Demand Certified/Licensed TBVI
Assistive Technology Equipment 6–9 weeks Certified/Licensed TBVI

Online Ordering Process

To place orders online:

  1. Click “Login” on the MN Resource Libraries website.

  2. Enter your username using lowercase letters: your first initial + last name (e.g., John Smith = jsmith).

  3. For your password, enter the last 4 digits of your contact phone number.

  4. Once logged in, you may change your password to something more secure.

Return Policy

  • All items except braillers, mini light boxes, and calculators must be returned by the due date to MNRL.

  • Braillers, mini light boxes, and calculators may be kept as long as the student requires them while living in Minnesota, up to age 21. They must be returned if no longer needed.

Repair Instructions:
If an MNRL brailler needs repair, send it to:

Minnesota State Academy for the Blind
Brailler Repair
400 SE 6th Avenue
Faribault, MN 55021

Please inform MNRL that the brailler is no longer in your possession.

If a mini light box no longer works and recharging overnight does not fix it, you may discard it but must notify MNRL.

Questions?

Please contact MN Resource Libraries Director, Matthew Kevan:
 mn.resource.libraries@msa.state.mn.us
 VP: 507-412-8904
 Voice: 507-384-6790