Talking Book and Braille Service Policies
Policies
Table of Contents
Collection Maintenance Policy
Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service Collection Maintenance Policy
I. Purpose
The purpose of this statement is to delineate policies which regulate the maintenance of materials within the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. The collection maintenance policy is applicable to those books provided by the National Library Service/Library of Congress and to all other materials added by this library to the collection.
The Talking Book and Braille Service adheres to the applicable policies and procedures as contained in the Network Manual provided by the National Library Service/Library of Congress, and the standards and guidelines contained in the Revised Standards and Guidelines for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, American Library Association.
II. Objectives of the Library
The primary objective of the Talking Book and Braille Service is to provide informational and recreational materials in braille and recorded formats to the residents of Nebraska who are unable to use standard print due to visual or physical limitations.
II. Considerations in Maintaining the Collection
The Talking Book and Braille Service shall participate in the National Library Service/Library of Congress copy allotment process for determining how many copies of each new National Library Service title shall be added to the collection. This determination shall be made in anticipation of the expected demand from library users.
Prior to each circulation from the library, all materials shall be examined for completeness and for operating condition. Borrowers who return defective books will be sent replacement copies upon request.
For each title produced in recorded format by the National Library Service/Library of Congress and also for each title added to the Nebraska Collection, the Talking Book and Braille Service shall retain a minimum of one copy. This provision shall not apply to those titles which the National Library Service has authorized to be withdrawn.
Loan Policy
Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service Loan Policy
I. Purpose
The following policies govern the circulation of books, magazines, and equipment to eligible blind and/or physically disabled borrowers of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. Eligible borrowers who borrow materials from the library accept responsibility for using materials with reasonable care, returning them to the library according to established loan policies, and not losing or damaging them through negligence. Violation of this policy can result in suspension of some or all library services.
II. Policy
Braille, recorded books and magazines, and specialized playback equipment will be loaned by this library to eligible registered borrowers without charge, and this library will keep records of all such loans. The borrower should notify the library of changes of address, a desire to cancel the service, or temporary or permanent transfer of service to another geographic area.
Playback equipment necessary to read the recorded materials may be borrowed on extended loan for as long as the borrower is using it to read materials provided by the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. A borrower is eligible to retain a Library of Congress cassette player as long as he or she borrows at least one book or one magazine on cassette in a twelve month period. A borrower is eligible to obtain a Library of Congress digital player as quantities permit and as long as he or she is a borrower in good standing. To be in good standing requires that a person has no more than one Library of Congress cassette player in their possession at a time, and has not demonstrated a pattern of lost or damaged library materials in any format. During and immediately following the initial roll-out of digital players, when demand for digital playback equipment or materials exceed the supply, preference will be given to borrowers who have been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States, followed by residents of veterans homes, classrooms, and frequent borrowers of books on cassette. In the event that a borrower ceases to remain active in a particular format, he or she is required to return the playback equipment for that format to the library.
In the event that playback equipment from the library ceases to function properly or needs repair, it should be returned to the library, and a replacement will be provided. Under no circumstances should a borrower attempt to repair the playback equipment or accessories.
A borrower in good standing may have a maximum of twenty books on cassette, ten in Braille, and three on digital cartridges charged to him or her at any one time. Once a borrower reaches the maximum number of books, no additional books will be sent until books are returned. In special circumstances, a borrower may request an increase in maximum number. For each book returned, a replacement book may be sent to the borrower. The loan period for books is six weeks. No fines for overdue books will be levied, though overdue notices will be sent. Borrowers are urged to observe the loan period so books can be available for other borrowers.
No initial limits are placed on the number of cassette or Braille magazine titles loaned to any one borrower of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service; however, the library reserves the right to place limits on the number of magazines on digital cartridges loaned to any one borrower of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. Borrowers who fail to return magazines to the library will be notified that magazines are overdue. Borrowers who do not return overdue magazines, after having been notified to do so, will not be sent subsequent issues of that magazine until past issues have been returned.
The borrower will ensure that books, magazines, and equipment being returned to the library as Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped are delivered into the hands of the United States Postal Service by placing these items in a mailbox or delivering them to the post office. Placing items on the doorstep of the borrower’s home for the mail carrier to pick up does not constitute delivery into the hands of the Postal Service. If materials are not delivered into the hands of the Postal Service, the borrower is responsible for the lost or damaged books.
Borrowers may not lend library books, magazines, or equipment to other persons.
In-person or telephone service may be suspended to any borrower who engages in verbal abuse of library staff. Abuse or neglect of library materials or playback equipment may also result in suspension of service.
III. Suspension Procedures
In the event that any of these policies are violated, the borrower's service may be suspended for a period of time after being given a written warning and an opportunity to reply. If after reinstatement of service, abuse continues, service may be suspended again.
In the event of suspension, the following steps will be taken:
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The library will first contact the borrower by telephone, in person, or by letter to discuss the problems noted with the borrower, then will send a warning letter that summarizes the discussion and the problem and provides an opportunity for the borrower to reply.
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If service abuse recurs, a written communication will be sent to the borrower, listing examples of subsequent abuse, giving the borrower an opportunity to reply by a certain date, and then suspending service for a stated period (up to six months). A specific date for resumption of service will be included in this letter.
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When the service is resumed, a letter will be sent to the borrower notifying him or her of the resumption of service and reminding the borrower that further recurrences of documented abuse will result in another suspension of service.
IV. Responsibility for Enforcement
Final responsibility for the enforcement of this policy rests with the Director of the Talking Book and Braille Service who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Nebraska Library Commission.
V. Revision of Policy
This policy statement will be reviewed and revised periodically as necessary with the assistance of the Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service.
This policy was adopted in response to a request by the National Library Service-Library of Congress. It was approved by the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service Advisory Committee. (Revised 06/07)
Material Selection Policy
Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service Material Selection Policy
I. Purpose
The purpose of this statement is to delineate policies which regulate the selection of materials to be included in the collection of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service when those materials are not produced by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). Such materials may be obtained through commercial sources or may be produced in a studio environment in accordance with NLS recording standards.
The Talking Book and Braille Service will not provide material of a personal nature, such as documents relating to the affairs of a specific borrower or private correspondence, textbooks, or personal employment materials.
II. Objectives of the Library
The primary objective of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service is to provide informational and recreational materials in braille and recorded formats to the citizens of Nebraska who are unable to read print due to visual or other physical impairment. The Talking Book and Braille Service may provide materials in other formats, such as home entertainment movies which feature audio description.
The Talking Book and Braille Service will attempt to provide its public with a well balanced and broad range of informational and recreational materials reflecting the needs of the readership.
III. Responsibility for Selection
The responsibility for selection of materials rests with the Director of the Talking Book and Braille Service who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Nebraska Library Commission.
IV. Priorities for Selection
The Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service produces materials of regional interest and otherwise adheres to the criteria for selection and selection guidelines stated in the NLS Selection Policy for Reading Materials and Freedom to Read statements adopted by the American Library Association.
Materials about Nebraska and those written by Nebraska authors (on all reading levels whether fiction or nonfiction) are given highest priority for inclusion in the collection. Materials about the Great Plains and Midwest are considered important to the collection, as are materials with subject content especially relevant to the specific circumstances of Talking Book and Braille Service borrowers. Requests from borrowers for materials to be added will receive careful consideration.
The Talking Book and Braille Service must also consider the following factors: copyright considerations; budgetary considerations; number of borrower requests; borrower interest; need for subject coverage in the collection; and suitability of material for recording (i.e., material must be within the technical capabilities of volunteer narrators and must retain its meaning without illustrations, charts, graphs, etc.).
When considering materials for production, the Talking Book and Braille Service will avoid producing material which is available from NLS, from other libraries in the NLS network, or from other sources, unless quality or format does not adequately meet the needs of Nebraska borrowers.
(Approved by the Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission
Talking Book and Braille Service, November 5, 2010.)
Reproduction of Materials Policy
Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service Reproduction of Materials Policy
I. Purpose
The purpose of this statement is to delineate a policy which regulates the reproduction of library materials for circulation to borrowers of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service. These materials will be reproduced by the library Audio Duplication Service.
II. Considerations in Reproducing Audio Materials
Recorded books and magazines will be duplicated for circulation to eligible borrowers of the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service as requested by the Director of the Talking Book and Braille Service or by the Director’s designee. For books on cassette, a noncirculating master recording will be maintained for each recorded book which is included in the library’s permanent book collection. Digital files of each book recorded in the Audio Recording Studios will also be retained. For each issue of a magazine duplicated within the Talking Book and Braille Service, a master copy will be stored for six months.
A copy of a cassette book or parts of a cassette book no longer covered by warranty will be duplicated under the following conditions:
- In response to the immediate need of a library borrower.
- When additional copies of titles cannot be obtained from another library through the National Library Service/Library of Congress XESS procedure, or multi-state center.
- When a book in high demand has been incomplete for four months.
A copy of a digital book will be duplicated onto a cartridge under the following conditions:
- A digital copy can be downloaded from the Library of Congress web site or from the library’s own digital files.
- In response to the immediate need of a library borrower.
- If the book on cartridge is in high demand and has been missing for four months.
A copy of a cassette magazine will be duplicated upon request for a library borrower. A copy of a digital magazine will be duplicated onto a digital cartridge, subject to the availability of resources as determined by the Director of the Talking Book and Braille Service or the Director’s designee.
III. Responsibility for Reproduction of Materials
Final responsibility for compliance with this policy rests with the Director of the Talking Book and Braille Service who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Nebraska Library Commission.
IV. Revision of Policy
This policy statement will be reviewed and revised periodically as necessary with the assistance of the staff and Advisory Committee to the Talking Book and Braille Service.
Revised as approved by the Talking Book and Braille Service Advisory Committee on October 15, 2009.