Designates

Designates

If you are finding that you would like a bit of extra support to manage your CELA account and help you get books, magazines or newspapers, you can name a designate. A designate can be anyone you choose: a family member, friend, or a helping professional such as a personal support worker, vision rehabilitation specialist or staff at your local public library.  

Senior man and womanBy adding a designate to your account, you are giving them permission to:  

  • Request books for you through CELA’s website or by contacting the CELA Contact Centre 
  • Review and revise holds and downloads and have access to your borrowing history 
  • Make changes to your automatic delivery schedule and reading preferences  
  • Make changes to your personal account information such as updating your address, phone number or email address 
  • Submit a Proof of Disability form for you within My Account in order to access Bookshare materials 

 

Adding a designate 

Already a CELA patron? 

If you would like to name a designate, please call or email our Contact Centre at help@celalibrary.ca or call 1-855-655-2273. You will be asked to give the first and last name of the designate, phone number and their email address. CELA’s Privacy Policy will apply to any personal information we collect from designates. 

Not yet a CELA patron? 

You may add a designate at the time you register for CELA, by completing the section for designates on your application form.  You can update or change your designate at any time through the CELA Contact Centre. 

Woman and boy reading tabletChildren 12 and under 

We recommend adding a designate to any child’s account who is 12 years old and under. CELA sends all members our Open Book monthly e-newsletter and any other service announcements by email so an adult should receive these communications. 

CELA services for kids and teens 

Designate responsibilities and protecting your information 

Access to CELA’s collection is limited to people with print disabilities who require reading materials produced in alternate formats as specified in the Canadian Copyright Act.   

A designate must understand and agree to access materials only on behalf of the CELA patron and not for their own use.  These conditions are outlined in our Terms of Acceptable Use Policy. 

CELA takes the privacy of you and your designate’s personal information very seriously and we will ask you or your designate to verify some account holder details before we make any changes to an account or add a designate.  

CELA’s Privacy Policy 
 

Finding and accessing reading materials 

We have a number of resources to help you or your designate learn how to access our reading materials. 

CELA for designates webinar

For more information on helping family, friends or others as a designate, see the CELA for Designates webinar (Word transcript also available).

Designates frequently asked questions

My designate does not have an email address, may I still add them to my account? 

Yes, patrons may add anyone to their account as long as we have a name and phone number. An email address is recommended but is optional.  

Should CELA be notified when a CELA patron has passed away? 

Yes please. Either the designate, or another person who knows the patron may email or phone our Contact Centre to let us know.   

How can I add a designate if I can no longer speak for myself? 

In cases where it is very difficult or impossible for the patron to call or email CELA, a designate may contact us to ask to be added to a patron’s account.  The person will be asked some questions to verify the account holder. 

Can there be more than one designate on an account? For example, could both parents be added on a child’s account? 

Yes, there can be two designates listed on a patron’s account. 

Can designates complete the title suggestion form on behalf of a patron, or any other CELA feedback forms? 

Absolutely. We encourage our patrons or those who support them to send suggestions on how we can improve our collections and services.