Hoosier Highlights
Lissa Shanahan, Indiana Regional Librarian
Carole Rose, Editor
317-232-3684 or 1-800-622-4970
e-mail: www.lbph@library.in.gov
Volume XXXI No. 1
Fall 2007
Customer Service Update
In keeping with our mission to provide excellent customer service, the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library has extended its service area to include approximately 800 additional talking book patrons. TBBL and its subregional libraries welcome the opportunity to offer a wide range of library services. We believe that 2008 will be an exciting year for the staff and our customers.
Communication is essential for great customer service. Please don't hesitate to phone, write, or e-mail your library any time with questions, requests, comments, or suggestions. You are welcome to visit your library whenever possible; we look forward to visitors. Of course, com-munication works both ways; we'll be keeping in touch with you as well.
During the next few months, our subregional libraries will be converting to KLAS, the automated circulation system that TBBL has been using since 2004. This conversion will give patrons served by Columbus, Evansville, and Merrillville the option to go online to browse the catalog, access their personal reading records to order books directly or add titles to their request lists. This is a popular option with many of our readers who want to order their own books or a family member may place orders for them. Detailed instructions for ordering online will be available once the conversion is completed.
Library Hosts Conference
The Indiana State Library was the site for the annual meeting of the Indiana regional and subregional libraries on August 21-22, 2007. The two-day session featured progress reports from each library, a panel discussion: "Your library today and tomorrow," and the formulation of a strategic plan for offering superior library service to our customers.
The past year has been a busy one Renee Lewis from Lake County has been maintaining the talking book collection, serving patrons, and doing outreach by mail and in person. This subregional library continues to maintain a fine collection of large print books and descriptive videos.
Sharon Thompson reported that the staff at the subregional library in Columbus sent welcome letters to patrons in each of the five counties which were added to their service area-Dearborn, Ripley, Ohio, Switzerland, and Franklin. The staff also visited district meetings and health fairs, sent letters to nursing homes and inactive patrons, distributing a patron survey, and began compiling a list of those patrons who are veterans.
In April, 2007, Barbara Shanks from the Evansville Subregional Library, spoke to the area's low vision support group about the transition to digital talking books and playback equipment. The group held its June meeting at the library where they enjoyed a tour, a visit with the staff, and refreshments. Barbara and her staff conducted tours, worked exhibits, gave presentations, and promoted the talking book program by contacting, school corporations, the Indiana Regional Council on Aging, nursing homes, hospitals, vision specialist, and the Visiting Nurses Association.
Although the new digital playback equipment will not be available for at least another year, each library is keeping a list of those patrons who would like to receive one of the new players as soon as possible. Contact the library serving you if you want to be added to the list.
The highlight of this year's meeting was the panel discussion which took place on August 21. Six patrons of the Indiana Regional Library were invited to participate in a discussion about library services. Participants were invited to comment on the current status of their library service, the transition to the digital format and its impact over the next few years, and suggest programs and services that would make using their library a great experience. Although regional and subregional library staff was present, they were not allowed to speak unless they were asked to answer a specific question or provide a brief clarification. It was a very informal discussion although a facilitator was present to keep the discussion progressing smoothly. We were anxious to hear from our customers, to listen to their comments, concerns, and recommend-ations. It was so successful that TBBL decided to host similar discussions at our subregional libraries.
In October, representatives from TBBL were invited to a panel discussion organized by the Evansville subregional. This discussion was also lively and informative.
Some of the things we learned from our customers were that:
Both groups were very pleased with their library service, although the Evansville patrons seemed to receive more personal contact with the staff. The Indianapolis patrons enjoyed the NLS-produced books but were more concerned about the limited number of titles in certain areas and the length of time needed to produce the books. Both groups enjoyed the commercial audio books that NLS was adding to the collection. Although the Evansville group was looking forward to the digital conversion, many more patrons from that area were more willing to continue using cassettes than customers served by TBBL. We and the staff of the subregionals in Columbus and Merrillville would like to organize discussion groups in these areas. Sharon and Renee will be recruiting panel members, but could use your help. If you are served by either of these libraries and would be interested in taking part in this important discussion, please contact either Sharon or Renee. Because of the approaching holiday season and the winter months, discussions may not be held until March or April. We are anxious to hear from patrons from all the service areas, so please consider volunteering.
New Movies
We've recently added the following movies to our descriptive video collection:
DV 55-- Shakespeare in Love
DV 56-The Kennedy's: the Later Years, 1962-1980
DV 57-The Kennedy's: the Early Years, 1900-1961
DV 58-The Return of Sherlock; The Sign of Four
DV 59-The Unforgiven
DV 60-Saving Private Ryan
DV 61-Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
DV 62-Aladdin
Each of our three subregional libraries also has a fine collection of descriptive videos. Contact the library serving you for more information or to request a video. If you've never borrowed one of our movies, we will send you a form which must be signed and returned to the library. And remember, subscribers, please return your videos within two weeks after you receive them in the mail. We currently have 62 movies on hand and will be adding many more, but this service is so popular that we can't seem to keep them on the shelf. Prompt returns mean shorter waiting lists. Thank you.
New Catalog
TBBL has just released a catalog listing large print titles that have been added to our collection during the past few months. Most of the listings are for adults, but several titles for children and teens are included.
This large print publication is available on loan. Contact the library to request LP 16786. We produce at least two catalogs each year, so you may want to add to your request lists by checking out some of our earlier listings.
Calendars
We have received our annual shipment of pocket calendars from the Michigan Braille transcribing Fund. We are sent 25 of the small, combination Braille and large print calendars and they are distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis. They are a big hit with our patrons and they won't last long. If we exhaust our supply before you contact us, you can get a free calendar from the supplier by calling (517) 780-5096. Your name will be entered into a database and you will automatically receive a calendar as long as they are being produced.
Library Recognizes Volunteer Repair Groups
The Talking Book and Braille Library recently recognized its two volunteer machine repair groups for their many hours of dedicated service to the Indiana's talking book patrons.
The nine Lucent Telephone Pioneers, based in Indianapolis, were honored during a picnic at Beach Grove Park on Wednesday, August 22. Pioneer John Edwards was the recipient of the second annual Paul Sholders award for the commitment and skills he brings to the machine repair program. Barney McEwen, former Indiana Regional Librarian and Associate Director with the Indiana State Library presented the award to Mr. Edwards.
The Indiana State Library and the General Electric Company helped the Fort Wayne Senior Elfun Society celebrate their tenth year as a volunteer machine repair group for the Indiana Talking Book program. The event was held at Lester's Party House in Fort Wayne on Tuesday, October 16.
During the past ten years, the group has spent 46,000 community service hours repairing 12,000 talking book machines for our patrons. Currently, twenty-six men and women volunteer their services.
The library presented two plaques-one to the General Electric Company for supporting the volunteer program, and one to the Senior Elfuns.
Hoosier Highlights-What's Your Preference
Currently, everyone registered with the Indiana Talking Book program receives a large print edition of Hoosier Highlights. We have discovered a way to cancel the large print edition for patrons whose households receive multiple copies and patrons who would prefer to read the newsletter in an alternative format.
The large print Highlights need not be returned. Braille and cassette copies are available on loan. The newsletter can also be found on our Indiana Library web site at www.library.in.gov and each issue remains on the site for a year. Persons who subscribe to IRIS and/or NFB Newsline may listen to the newsletter. Iris volunteers will read each issue at least twice during the first few weeks after its release. Each issue of Highlights remains on the NFB Newsline information channel for at least two months. Some patrons have expressed an interest in receiving the newsletter via e-mail. That option will be considered.
You may certainly receive a large print copy of Hoosier Highlights even if you prefer to read it in another format. However, a number of our patrons would prefer not to receive a large print edition. Please let us know if you want to continue receiving Hoosier Highlights in large print. What format would you prefer in addition to or instead of large print?
Exciting News for Students
The Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education recently made a major five-year award of 32 million dollars to further the objectives of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by supplying high quality textbooks and educational materials for students with special needs. This funding will be used to fully support schools and all students throughout the U.S. who have qualifying disabilities. Students in grades K-12 and those pursuing post-secondary education are eligible. Age limit is 26 years.
The educational materials will be available through Bookshare.org, an organization whose employees scan the print books and converts them into electronic text. Titles can be downloaded and read on a computer or converted to high quality daisy or Braille formats Bookshare titles are read electronically but staff and volunteers review the scanned material to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
Currently, Bookshare members pay a $50 annual fee for access to more than 36,000 titles. Students will have free access to the entire collection of electronic books and the software needed to read them. During the next two years, Bookshare.org plans to add more than 100,000 titles to its library. For further information, visit www.bookshare.org
Easter Seals Crossroads Partners with Indiana Libraries
Easter Seals Crossroads, Indiana's leading provider of assistive technology services, has recently partnered with several Indiana libraries to make assistive technology equipment available to the public. In October, the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library system kicked off their accessibility initiative and hosted an open house displaying the IMCPL assistive technology workstation at the Glendale Branch. An additional workstation is anticipated to be available for public use at the Central Library, which opens in December.
Easter Seals Crossroads is also partnering with the libraries in New Castle and Warsaw, Indiana to implement an accessibility program that will include various assistive technology applications and systems. Please visit www.EasterSealsTech.com for updates on these exciting projects or contact Wade Wingler (wwingler@eastersealscrossroads.org or 888-466-1314) for more information.
Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library Calendar
Monday December 24, 2007 Library Closed
Tuesday December 25, 2007 Library Closed
Tuesday January 1, 2008 Library Closed
Monday January 21, 2008 Library Closed
Friday March 21, 2008 Library Closed
Tuesday May 6, 2008 Library Closed
Monday May 26, 2008 Library Closed
Friday July 4, 2008 Library Closed
Monday September 1, 2008 Library Closed
Monday October 13, 2008 Library Closed
Tuesday November 4, 2008 Library Closed
Tuesday November 11, 2008 Library Closed
Thursday November 27, 2008 Library Closed
Friday November 28, 2008 Library Closed
Thursday December 25, 2008 Library Closed
Friday December 26, 2008 Library Closed
From all of us at the Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library
wishing you and your family the best of the Holiday Season
Hoosier Highlights is a publication of the Talking Book and Braille Library, Indiana State Library. Hoosier Highlights is also available in braille or on cassette upon request.
Any mention of products and services in the Hoosier Highlights is for information only and does not imply endorsement.
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