[Iabs-talk] FW: Important Update regarding IL Talking Books Program - Funding Changes

Thu Jan 28 13:24:49 UTC 2016

From: Melissa Wittenberg [mailto:Melissa.Wittenberg at CHICAGOLIGHTHOUSE.ORG] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 5:46 PM
To: Amy Peterson
Cc: Albert Anderson; Alexander Brown (alexander at friedmanplace.org); Amy
Serpe (aserpe at transitchicago.com); Andrew Webb (awebb2168 at gmail.com); Andy
Roy (andyr4350 at gmail.com); Angela Geis (angelageis21 at gmail.com); Ann Brash;
Arthur and Lois Krause (scoreone8 at aol.com); Beth Elman;
bev51tbird at sbcglobal.net; Bill Jurek (bill.jurek at att.net); Brad Shorser
(bshorser at comcast.net); Brett Shishkoff; Brian Johnson
(johnsonvoices at sbcglobal.net); Brittany Stern; Bryen Yunashko
(hello at bryen.com); Byron Lee (blee at horizons-blind.org); Camille Caffarelli
(camille at horizons-blind.org); Candace Newman (canewman at lafchicago.org);
Carol Anderson; Cecilia Miranda (ceci60660 at gmail.com); Cecille Escartin;
Chris Middleton (cnachristopherj at gmail.com); Christina Mullins
(christina.mullins at cityofchicago.org); Dave Porter (info at comp-unique.com);
David Meyer (datemeyer at sbcglobal.net); Debra Scott
(debra.scott at illinois.gov); Denise Avant (davant1958 at gmail.com); Diane
Costas (Dmcostas at cps.edu); Doreen Bogus (dbogus at cityofchicago.org); Garland
Clay Lonzo (garlandclaylonzo1000 at gmail.com); Jae Pak (jaejin.pak at gmail.com);
Jake Mattinson; Jemal Powell (derek2872 at yahoo.com); Jim Dickson
(james.charles.dickson at gmail.com); jnonato85 at yahoo.com; Joan
(davej652 at sbcglobal.net); Joe Albritton (jalbritton at cityofchicago.org);
Karyn Campbell (karyn1421 at gmail.com); Kelly Pierce (kkellyp at gmail.com);
Kerry Obrist (kerry_obrist at yahoo.com); Luis Garcia (luisgee21 at gmail.com);
Marcia Trawinski (marfred106 at gmail.com); Maureen Heneghan
(maureenheneghan at att.net); mmwhite8776 at comcast.net; Nicole Gleason
(nicolekgleason at hotmail.com); Pamela Berman (pamelacberman at gmail.com);
Patrick Keenan-Devlin; Patti S. Gregory-Chang (pattischang at gmail.com); Paul
Rink (rinkmaster at sbcglobal.net); Paul Scher (plscher at ameritech.net); Peter
Berg (pberg at uic.edu); ponytail2255 at aol.com; Ray Campbell
(ray153056 at gmail.com); Robert Harris (harris.robert at epa.gov); Robert Kingett
(kingettspeaks at gmail.com); Sharon Howerton (shrnhow at att.net); Shirley Eilken
(shirleeilken at aol.com); Sid Firstman (sidfirstman at comcast.net); Stephen
Handschu (stephenhandschu at gmail.com); Sue Lamm (suzj1013 at sbcglobal.net);
Terry Gorman (t.gorman at sbcglobal.net); Tim Paul (tjpaul80 at hotmail.com);
Vanessa Thomas; Vanessa Thomas (vanessathomas3159 at gmail.com); Victoria
Ferrarini (victoriaferrarini at comcast.net)
Subject: Important Update regarding IL Talking Books Program - Funding
Changes

The following was brought to my attention today by the Director of Talking
Books at the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS).

Talking Book service is provided to anyone in Illinois who is blind,
visually impaired, or has physical disabilities that prevent the reading of
standard print. The service is funded by a blend of state and federal grant
funds. As a result of the current state budget impasse, the Illinois State
Library (ISL) informed Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) that
they can no longer fund Talking Book and braille services for RAILS, the
Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), and the Chicago Public Library
(CPL) after FY2016.

RAILS will work on a transition plan with their Board, ISL, IHLS, and CPL
over the next several months to determine the best way to ensure that these
valuable services continue. Part or all of the service could be transitioned
to ISL. RAILS could also decide to fund part of the service through their
reserve.

This information applies to all partners and patrons.  The Illinois State
Library is the regional library in the state.  Funding being what it is in
Illinois, especially in this budget standoff year, state and federal funding
is no longer available to fund the subregionals as of July 1, 2016.  In the
meantime, RAILS and CPL are exploring all their options while considering
transition issues.  They won't know for at least two months, maybe more, how
they will be transitioning and how long they will continue to exist before
moving all or part of their services to the State Library.

They will keep members informed of the latest developments.

In the meantime, ALL are urged to contact their elected officials to
advocate for continued funding for Talking Book services - please spread the
word along!!

Melissa Wittenberg

Senior Director | The Chicago Lighthouse North

222 Waukegan Road | Glenview, IL 60025

Main Phone: 847.510.6200 | Direct Phone: 847.510.2060

Fax: 847.729.2207 | Cell: 773.301.2726

 <http://www.chicagolighthouse.org/> www.chicagolighthouse.org

 <http://www.chicagolighthouse.org/> cid:image002.jpg at 01D11B01.3B88BFB0

 <https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoLighthouse/timeline/?ref=ts>
cid:image003.png at 01D11B01.3B88BFB0   <https://twitter.com/ChiLighthouse>
cid:image004.jpg at 01D11B01.3B88BFB0
<https://www.youtube.com/user/chicagolighthouse>
cid:image005.png at 01D11B01.3B88BFB0
<https://instagram.com/chicagolighthouse/>
cid:image006.png at 01D11B01.3B88BFB0
<https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-chicago-lighthouse-for-people-who-are-
blind-or-visually-impaired?trk=company_logo>
cid:image007.png at 01D11B01.3B88BFB0   

The contents of this message are legally privileged and/or confidential. The
information is intended only for use of the intended recipient. If this
message is received in error, please destroy it without reading and notify
the sender immediately. This message should not be forwarded or distributed
without the permission of the author.

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 9865 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/iabs-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160128/4b676cfa/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 997 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/iabs-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160128/4b676cfa/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 991 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/iabs-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160128/4b676cfa/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1170 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/iabs-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160128/4b676cfa/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1520 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/iabs-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160128/4b676cfa/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image006.png
Type: image/png
Size: 1285 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/iabs-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160128/4b676cfa/attachment-0003.png>