[nfbmi-talk] Fwd: FYI, today's article in Traverse City Record-Eagle regarding MCB assistance offered to help continue TC library services for people with disabilities

[Larry Posont]

FYI, MCB Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) Manager Sue Chinault
will be making a presentation today to the Traverse Area District
Library (TADL) board to propose an alternative to the board closing
their local Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.  The MCB
proposal would allow the local library to remain open as an Outreach
and Advisory Center, providing some services locally, with the
remaining services provided from Lansing by the MCB BTBL.  The link
and complete story in today's Traverse City Record-Eagle are pasted
below my signature block.



Susan Turney

Communications & Outreach Coordinator, Michigan Commission for the Blind

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

desk:  517-241-8631; cell: 517-243-3858; fax:  517-335-5140

MCB toll-free: 1-800-292-4200

201 N. Washington Square, Second Floor,

P.O. Box 30652; Lansing, MI 48909

www.michigan.gov/mcb<http://www.michigan.gov/mcb>





http://record-eagle.com/local/x232463865/Library-for-blind-may-get-a-compromise

Library for blind may get a
compromise<http://record-eagle.com/local/x232463865/Library-for-blind-may-get-a-compromise>

BY BRIAN McGILLIVARY Thu Apr 19, 2012, 07:44 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY - Local library officials will consider a new option to
shrink its library for the blind and physically handicapped, but
maintain service provided by its librarians.

The Traverse Area District Library shelved plans last month to close
its library for the blind while it explored other methods to erase a
$62,000 shortfall for serving sight-impaired patrons. The Michigan
Commission for the Blind suggested Traverse City consider becoming the
state's first Outreach and Advisory Center - a smaller, less expensive
version of the state's system of local, full-service libraries for the
blind.

"I think this can be fiscally helpful to everybody ... without
sacrificing service," said Sue Chinault, manager of the Michigan
Commission for the Blind Braille & Talking Book Library.

Her proposal would remove the majority of books from Traverse City's
collection and retain a small amount of material for walk-in patrons,
as well as the ability to download online books from the National
Library System.

Patrons would still call Traverse City to speak with a librarian to
make book selections, but the books would be mailed from Lansing.
That's similar to what happens now when a patron requests a book
that's not part of Traverse City's collection, Chinault said.

Chinault will present the idea to the TADL board today at 5:30 p.m. at
the Interlochen Public Library, 9700 Riley Road, in Interlochen. No
action will be taken by the board today, said Metta Lansdale, library
director.

Chinault is scheduled to return April 30 for a public forum on the
issue at the library's main Woodmere Avenue branch.

"I think it's very promising, and I'm hugely enthusiastic about it,"
Lansdale said.

Some patrons remain skeptical.

"I don't like it," said Carol George, of Williamsburg.

Budget cuts already created long waits to speak with a librarian and
waiting for books from Lansing can take a few weeks instead of a few
days, George said.

But Lansdale said the move could improve service by freeing her highly
skilled librarians from the time-consuming responsibilities of mailing
materials. She expects it would allow the board to double the number
of hours the library for the blind is open.

Tight fiscal budgets have several libraries around the state talking
about closing services for the blind, and Lansing can't absorb that
demand, Chinault said. She can hire college students part-time to ship
out materials, but she needs trained librarians to answer the phones
and advise patrons.

"People are fighting now to hold onto the jobs they have," she said.
"The state is not creating new full-time positions."

Chinault is "very hopeful Traverse City will be interested" in the
proposed center "as an alternative to closing."