Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission
Talking Book and Braille Service
Nebraska Library Commission
1200 N Street, Suite 120 Meadowlark Room
Lincoln, Nebraska
Thursday, June 11 2009, 9:00 a.m.
DRAFT Minutes subject to change at the next meeting
The Advisory Committee to the Talking
Book and Braille Service met Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 9 a.m.
Members present: Annette
Hall, Margie Harrison, Ana Kalin, Robert Kalin, Nancy Larimer, Scott Scholz
, Shirley Schmidt, Becky Sims, Mary Trenerry, Stephanie Beisch, Dave Oertli
and Joan Davis.
Becky
introduced herself and explained to the group about the Offutt Air Base' s
library. The Air Force has many
programs through their library that are designed to enhance the quality of both
the personal and professional lives of the service men and women as well as
their families. They also have an
extensive language learning center.
Scott
demonstrated two machines for the visually impaired and disabled.
He had both a basic machine and an advanced machine. All agreed the
improvement is immense and the voice is an improvement both in its clarity and
its intonation. The anticipation for the new machines was once again discussed.
It is estimated that there are 300 Nebraska veterans who qualify for the
machines. Because of the wait to get
machines, concern was expressed about other options that might be available in
the mean time. Copyright laws do not allow for many options-the Victor is one of
the few devices that can be used to download texts.
The Victor is somewhat limited also as a person must have high speed
internet, web access and the knowledge of how to download.
It was also mentioned that the Library of Congress has 15,000 books in it
digital collection available, but once again, a person must have high speed
internet and web access in order to download a book.
NLS currently has between 3-5,000 books digitalized (digitized?) and each
new book that is released comes in this form.
This fall there should be around 7,000 books available in NLC' s
collection of digitalized books.
Dave
mentioned that a young user stopped by and was excited when he was in-serviced
on the new machine. It is difficult
to have to explain about the waiting list.
The distribution of the new recorders is slated for early fall and the
transition is expected to take six years.
The consideration for the users has been established with veterans having
first priority, second priority will go to users who are 100 years old and
older, and after that, library users in good standing will be given the new
devices. Initially a person may
check out three books at a time until more books are available.
There are currently 4,300 people in Nebraska who use the Talking Book
service. The veteran preference is
legislated, the 100+ is a courtesy and then the states have broad discretion as
to how the players will be distributed.
Ana
wondered what is more useful: a
Victor or a new device. Mary
wondered if school foundations might be able to buy a Victor for student use.
Dave explained that facilities aren' t able to buy a Victor, only an
individual. The school could possibly buy one, but then it must be signed out to
an individual. The institution must
also go through the Library Commission for validation.
Ana asked
how long she should keep her cassette player.
Dave said that magazines will stay on cassettes for 18 months into the
transition and possibly all magazines will eventually go digital, but the cost
to put all periodicals on digital is cost prohibitive at this time.
The new digital player costs approximately $200, which is considerably
less than the old cassette players.
Annette
brought up how it is a bit difficult to market the new digital players.
While it is very important to let people know how talking books are
changing, it is also hard to get people ready and then have to explain it might
be several years before they will actually have a player.
Becky suggested that perhaps it would be good to go to communities and
have librarians demonstrate the new devices.
Ana and Robert recalled learning on the old 33 rpm records then the ' flexis'
and how when cassettes came out it was such an improvement.
Ana said she understands people might be reluctant at first to change,
but once they experience the new recorders, they will be excited about the new
technology. There have been problems
in the past that people who have never used the machines might not
appreciate-hissing sounds, tangled tapes, etc.
Becky said seeing Ana and Robert' s enthusiastic response really impressed
upon her how exciting this change is.
Ana said she and Robert would be glad to demonstrate the new machines for
users. Shirley mentioned her peer vision
support group reaches a lot of people and would also be a good resource.
Margie said that the July meeting of the Panhandle Library Commission
would be a good time for a demonstration as well.
Mary
brought up the importance of focusing on veterans.
Becky said she will try to put the word out at various agencies that work
with veterans. She also said she
would check about setting up an information table at this year' s state library
convention.
It was
reported that VIPS (Visually Impaired. . .) lost all of its federal funding;
however it members have decided to keep this organization going through various
Senior Centers.
Discussion
was held about getting the word out to schools about the Victor.
Nancy and Joan reported they have each talked with school personnel and
were surprised about the limited interest the schools seem to have.
Dave said he has met with a similar response.
Discussion was held about how to reintroduce ourselves to schools?
Possibly by making technological downloads available?
Ana and Robert mentioned that one reason for the school' s seeming lack of
enthusiasm is that schools have passed by the technology available through NLC
and moved to other resources that are available to help the visually impaired.
Discussion
was held about the fall meeting, with a tentative time in September discussed.
Nancy moved we adjourn and it was seconded.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Davis
For more information contact Scott Scholz, Director, Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service.
402-471-6553
800-742-7691
Scott Scholz