[Nfbf-l] Braille and Talking books Library Update

[Patricia A. Lipovsky]

Library Update
by Susan Roberts

> *         The library is within days of completing the renovation project that was begun in April 2013.   While there will be some follow-on work, the original project is nearing completion.   Here are the highlights:

>  o   Phase one saw the renovation of the 1992 and 1997 annex buildings to house library administration, a volunteer work area, a small area for library story times, a dedicated area for Braille and print production and digital duplication; a larger area for machine repair; a dedicated area for processing mismatched materials - cartridges and cases that come back separated; areas so that the Braille collection can be in one space and the digital collection in another; staff work areas, totally renovated restroom facilities, a larger staff break room (that houses that great ice maker you purchased for us) and a smaller coffee bar near the volunteer work area (where the Keurig Coffee Maker is installed).
 
> o   Phase two included the demolition of the former administration building, the demolition of about 75% of the Cope annex and the remodeling of the remaining Cope annex.
 
> o   Phase three included the upgrade of the mail room, the removal of 75% of the Braille annex (also known as the North annex), the landscaping and installation of the underground drainage system.
 
> *         We will have some follow on work that is already in the pipeline and there is also a possibility of even more refinements if funds remain available.  That will include:
 
> o   Construction of a new parking area closer to the new main entrance of the library
 
> o   Replacement of the scissor lift for the postal truck at the loading dock area
 
> o   Upgraded exterior lighting
 
> o   The construction of a covered walkway between the main building and the recording studio
 
> *         Later in the year after all of the follow on work is complete, we do plan to have an open house so that our customers, neighbors and friends can see the amazing transformation of the facility.

> > *         The library continues to work toward the total conversion to the digital cartridge format and will follow the NLS lead to have all audio cassettes removed from the collection by 2015.
 
> *         All materials being produced in audio format are now being produced on digital cartridge.   We have the 7 magazine anthologies, the White Cane Bulletin and the Florida Blind Veteran's Association newsletter all circulating.   Additionally, NLS rolled out their "magazine on cartridge" program in March for Florida so patrons are no longer receiving new materials in audiocassette format.  There have been some problems with the NLS roll-out that are being addressed on the national level.   Also, there were some very unpopular changes made to Talking Book Topics that are being revisited.   And, the biggest change is that the audio copy of TBT now must be returned so that the cartridge can be recycled.
 
> *         In December, we received the new production printer and are now able to mass produce printed materials at a far more efficient rate and in better quality than before.   We are printing the newsletters for the Subregional libraries on a rotating schedule along with mailings for DBS, our CRP's and various consumer groups.
 
> *         The organized outreach and customer development activities are going extremely well.   Since July 1, 2013, the net patron gain has been nearly 100% with over 1800 new customers and less than 900 patrons discontinuing service.   This is the first year that we have seen that remarkable of an increase and can be directly linked to the outstanding work of Kara Riley.
 
> *         The library staff is working very hard toward new goals for this year and the productivity is increasing remarkably.   The production section has stepped up the release of magazine anthologies with one going out every 2 - 3 weeks, more books are being produced than ever before and they are being selected for inclusion by a statewide workgroup.   Braille production is also increasing with books all books that are being recorded also being produced in Braille.   Braille books are submitted to NLS for inclusion in the BARD program and this year there is a goal to shepherd a minimum of 2 audio books through the very strident NLS quality assurance program.   Additionally, NLS is planning to accept all locally produced books into the BARD program with the disclaimer that they have not passed the NLS QA program..
 
> *         The Library will be assuming the "sponsor" role for Newsline in a few weeks and will be able to handle customer registration immediately upon request without the information having to be filtered through the NLS combined mailing list system and then to Newsline.  This work will be absorbed by existing staff at the outset and we hope to get authorization for an additional staff position to handle this.
 
> *         With changes in DOE regulations, we will soon implement a new process for the intake and monthly record keeping for volunteers.   Going forward, all volunteer activity will have to be done either at the library or at an outreach event with a library staff member.  Additionally, monthly time sheets, by day and time, will be required including a signature.   These will now have to be submitted to DOE or their records.   There is no doubt that the volunteer program is a value-added activity and through the statewide collection of data in DOE, this quasi-public-private partnership will receive the recognition that it deserves.
 
> *         There have been a number of problems encountered with the battery life of the digital talking book machines.   These machines are very complex computerized instruments and NLS continues to learn ways that the options that are built into the system can be utilized to improve the machines.  Our machine manager, Cheryl Davis is working very closely with NLS and is, in turn, able to better address the issues that are happening with these players.  We are also now able to replace virtually everything involved with these machines from the buttons to the computer components and there are very few machines
that cannot be reconditioned and put back into a nearly new condition.
 
> You can see that our days getting more and more busy; there are a number of other initiatives that we are beginning on an administrative level that we will share as they move through the stages from planning to execution.    The library is doing quite well, the customers base is growing and  our staff are stepping up to the challenges.
 
 
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." 

                           ?Oscar Wilde