A NEW communication aid has just been launched at Tavistock Library in an attempt to make the facility accessible to everyone.

The 'Total Communications Board' is an aid for people with communication disabilities or difficulties, which allows them to get their message or question across to library staff.

The board is laminated with pictures depicting most of the possible questions that one would be likely to ask in a library, and will be placed on the front desk along with individual flashcards. People with communication difficulties can point to a word or sentence to let staff know what it is they want.

The board has been produced by Total Communication Now as part of a joint project between the Devon Health and Social Care Learning Disability Partnership, Devon Library Services and Chelfham Senior School.

Charlotte Smith, speech and language therapist working with the Total Communications Now initiative, said: 'Two years ago I got funding to buy mobile kits, including computers, cameras and laminators, to set up in 10 towns across Devon to give support in local places to people who need to make visual aids to communicate, and help services like the library to become more inclusive of people with communication difficulties.'

Senior library supervisor at Tavistock Library Helen Cooper said: 'Something like this is such an asset for library staff. It is sometimes incredibly difficult to communicate with people — this is something good for all of us.'