[nfbwatlk] FW: More on saving the radio reading service

[Mike Freeman]

I note that nowhere in the article below is the existence of NFB NewslineR
acknowledged or explained. I suppose this is inevitable considering that the
article comes from those aiming to save the Evergreen Radio Reading Service.
Nonetheless, even if one favors retention of ERRS, such an omission makes
for a misleading presentation.

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: wcb-l-bounces at wcbinfo.org [mailto:wcb-l-bounces at wcbinfo.org] On Behalf
Of frank cuta
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 7:31 PM
To: Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
Cc: frank at cuta.neT
Subject: [Wcb-l] More on saving the radio reading service

Note:  This article was copied from the saveerrs.org website.
Frank


In the midst of all the discussions regarding more cutbacks in the
Washington State budget, lost among the big headline stories about
health care for vulnerable citizens, huge tuition increases for higher
education, and prisoners being released from incarceration, there are
dozens of smaller stories about services being targeted for elimination
- this is just one of them.
====================
There are thousands of citizens in this state who are partially blind,
totally blind, or otherwise visually impaired.  Macular degeneration
robs many people of their sight as they age.  Veterans return from
service overseas with damage to their eyes or visual centers of the
brain.  There are also many in our population who are unable to read or
comprehend standard printed materials, such as newspapers, magazines and
books.  They may have suffered strokes or are partially paralyzed from
conditions including Multiple Sclerosis or Cerebral Palsy, or suffer
from Dyslexia.
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is a service based
in Seattle, that ships recorded books on digital cartridges, playable on
specially adapted equipment, all provided free of charge (by federal
mandate) to qualified individuals across the state.  Since newspapers
and magazines are more timely and ephemeral, rather than recording and
shipping them days later, library patrons can listen to the Evergreen
Radio Reading Service (ERRS) to get readings of daily newspapers from
across the state, and information from dozens of magazines on topics
ranging from science to travel, gardening to job-hunting, music to
literature.
The programs are broadcast on a service that was one of the first in the
nation, established in March of 1973, over sub-carrier frequencies of
three public-radio stations (based in Seattle, Spokane and the
Tri-Cities), which require special receivers to pick up - receivers that
the library also provides for free.  Patrons anywhere in the state (and
beyond) can also listen to a live webstream of the radio's 24-hour
programming.  Among the most popular broadcasts are daily readings from
the Seattle Times, interviews with authors, a call-in program covering
an unlimited range of topics, and readings of grocery and drugstore
specials and bargains (which can be downloaded each week to portable
devices and taken by listeners to the store while they shop).
ERRS has a paid staff of two part-time broadcasters, who oversee a crew
of between 80-100 volunteers, coordinate getting material to be read,
engineer live broadcasts and operate the automation system that runs all
the programming.  The volunteers must pass an audition process, and are
trained to do their own digital recording and editing in studios located
at the library.  About 70% of the service's programming is produced
in-house.
In the recent call for budget-cutting proposals, WTBBL was asked to
submit how they would cut five percent from their budget, approximately
$110,000.  (WTBBL is operated by the Washington State Library, which is
a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.)  Library
management, after continually seeing yearly budget slashing for some
time (as with all state agencies), proposed the elimination of ERRS - an
actual savings of around $158,000.  This proposal was accepted and
passed up the chain by the Acting State Librarian, the Secretary of
State, and eventually, the Governor.
Some have argued that ERRS programming is available by other means -
computerized screen-reader software can scan newspaper and magazine
articles, for example.  But those same programs generally do not work
with graphics-heavy websites, such as weekly grocery advertising.  In
addition, the majority of patrons served by ERRS are seniors, many of
whom have limited income or are unemployed, and do not have computer
access in their homes - so the radio service is their only means to get
this important information.
It is unknown how many members of the community actually use the radio
reading service.  WTBBL records show nearly 900 radio receivers sent out
to patrons over the years, but when a recent survey was done asking
listeners to let the library know how many people are tuning in, they
got only 85 responses.  The state is not releasing figures as to how
many people access the service via the internet, but external
measurements suggest the possibility of over 2000 listeners.  In
addition, since making some of their original programming available for
later download, the website has received over 55,000 hits.
Volunteers of the radio service, as well as patrons, are not taking this
proposal sitting down.  They are moving beyond the attitude of "if we
save this service, we'll lose something else" and instead want to get
the message out that "no more services are to be taken from this
particular community - find the money somewhere else."  This is not
about something special for the blind, visually-impaired and
print-impaired citizens of the state - it is about a service that helps
bring equality to their lives.
They have created a website at SaveERRS.org, as a means to get
information out about the station's plight.  Since the proposed
elimination came from within the agency itself, albeit because they were
required by the Governor to do so, the library cannot "rally the troops"
to argue their case before the legislature and the general public.
Volunteer readers and library patrons are using the website as a means
to get the message not only to their legislative representatives, but
also to members of the media and (most important) to potential sources
of outside funding.
Library management has said that if outside operating funding can be
found before the end of the year, they will not pull the plug on ERRS.
But time is the enemy.  A request to fund the service for a period of
time using what are called "gift funds" (solicited and unsolicited
general donations to WTBBL), in order to buy time to seek funding
sources (grants, corporate gifts, underwriting, memberships, etc.) was
rejected.
Thus, the clock is ticking on a small but valuable service to a portion
of the state's citizenry.  In less than two months' time, a unique
service that has provided a major step to equality for the blind, for
veterans, for seniors and for many disabled people for over 38 years,
may be gone.  It will provide only a tiny blip in filling the state's
budget gaps - at a tremendous cost to those who value the service.
 
Websites for additional information:
www.SaveERRS.org
www.wtbbl.org/ERRS.aspx

 


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