An increasing number of library patrons are hard of hearing. The U.S. Bureau of Census projected that 35 million North Americans would suffer from hearing loss by the year 2005 based on the age-population projections. These individuals would have at one time been labeled as deaf due to the lack of assistive hearing technology such as hearing aids…

Discusses the accessibility of public libraries to the physically handicapped in light of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. The specific architectural requirements of the law are outlined and questions concerning the scope of the law and funding of required renovations are addressed. A 15-item bibliography is provided. (JL)