Advisory Committee to the Nebraska Library Commission
Talking Book and Braille Service
Nebraska Library Commission
1200 N Street, Suite 120
Meadowlark Room
Lincoln, Nebraska
Wednesday, November 18, 2015, 1:00 p.m.
Agenda with Minutes
Main agenda items for the November 18, 2015 meeting include the following but may be modified at such meeting:
- Welcome; Introductions.
- Persons in Attendance:
- Patricia Candy (by telephone)
- Susan Ledder
- Eloise Hiatt
- Kristal Platt (by telephone)
- John Wick (by telephone)
- Annette Hall (TBBS staff)
- Scott Scholz (TBBS staff)
- Minutes of the last meeting. Minutes from the June 2015 meeting will be forwarded shortly after this meeting.
- Update on staff transitions: David Oertli has retired, Scott Scholz is Acting Director.
- Outreach ideas? We have been contacting retirement centers, care facilities, various health care groups, and educational groups. We have also been working on having a presence in print, television, and radio media, with occasional PSA spots on KZUM, a recent article in Lincoln 55+ magazine, and a segment on Live and Learn on 5-City TV.
The video segment from Live and Learn received a promotion award from the Special and Institutional Libraries section of the Nebraska Library Association, and has been placed on YouTube by 5-City TV. It showed the process of recording and disseminating talking books, and featured a conversation between Leta Powell Drake, David Oertli, and Scott Scholz. What are some other ideas?
- Newsletter? As one of our main regular forms of communication with patrons, we are wondering if it would be useful to re-evaluate some of the content or format of our bimonthly Interchange newsletter, which is distributed in large print, braille, and audio.
Electronic versions such as Survey Monkey—something that is accessible, easy-to-use, and allows patrons to check which book to send?
Emailing newsletter, or a link to newsletter?
- Unrated NLS books. The National Library Service is getting some new audiobooks directly from publishers, which are then turned into NLS-format digital talking books made available on cartridge and through the download website BARD. This increases the number of books we receive significantly. However, these books come “unrated,”
meaning they have no indications for strong language, sex, or violence, which other NLS books have. Many patrons choose to exclude books in those categories—what might be some options to help these new books circulate more?
Is there a way to electronically sort/search books by word selection? Would need book text files.
Some DVD players or software programs allow for parental controls with different levels of content access; would something like this be available?
Could patrons volunteer to send comments as they read unrated books?
- Date for spring meeting; adjournment. Wednesday in May was recommended: planning on May 4. Susan moved to adjourn. John seconded. Motion carried.
A tour of our new circulation and studio area to follow if committee members are interested. (conducted a short tour for Susan)
Minutes respectfully submitted by Kristal Platt, Secretary
November 18, 2015
For more information contact:
Nebraska Library Commission
Talking Book and Braille Service
(402) 471-6553 | (800) 742-7691