[Ohio-Talk] Ohio Library for the Blind and Print Disabled Spring Newsletter Now Available!

Sat Mar 12 02:41:56 UTC 2022

OLBPD DIMENSIONS NEWSLETTER

Ohio Library for the Blind & Print Disabled at Cleveland Public Library

17121 Lake Shore Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44110

Statewide Toll-Free: 800-362-1262                                    Phone:
216-623-2911

Web: http://olbpd.cpl.org
Twitter: @OLBPD

Email: olbpd at cpl.org <mailto:olbpd at cpl.org>
Edition: Spring 2022

Happy 125th Anniversary OLBPD!

This year is a milestone year for the Ohio Library for the Blind and Print
Disabled (OLBPD). First and foremost, OLBPD celebrates its 125th anniversary
as part of the Cleveland Public Library! To commemorate our anniversary, the
history of OLBPD will be featured in a four-part series of newsletter
articles. We hope you enjoy these articles as you learn more about the rich
history of OLBPD. This first article will introduce patrons to our origin
story, and the person instrumental to the founding of this library. The
early history of OLBPD is from "Open Shelves and Open Minds" by C.H. Cramer,
1972. 

Cleveland Public Library (CPL) had long been in the front ranks of libraries
providing special services to those who were print disabled or isolated from
the library: people who were blind, people who were sick in hospitals, and
inmates at correctional institutions. In the early years, the motivating
force behind a library for the blind in Cleveland was CPL Director Linda
Eastman. It was her enthusiasm and untiring support that kept it going in
the face of bitter disappointment and annoying delay. 

Shortly before the turn of the century, Eastman strove to aid those in the
community who were unable to read braille. She did so by organizing a club
of blind patrons who gathered weekly to listen as volunteers read aloud to
them. This group met at Goodrich House, a social settlement built in 1897 by
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Mather - who were important to Cleveland for both steel
and philanthropy. In 1903, Eastman began instruction in braille with a class
that met every Wednesday at the library. Volunteers brought class members to
the meetings in carriages and streetcars. 

As early as 1903, the library's annual report noted that books for blind
patrons were much too expensive for most of those who would benefit by their
use, noting that one of the most important additions during the year had
been seventy-four books for blind patrons - secured partly from gifts and
partly from the library's own budget - as a start toward "providing those
starving readers with sorely needed intellectual and spiritual nourishment."
In 1906, Eastman became one of the three initial trustees of the newly
organized Society for the Blind (now the Cleveland Sight Center), which
thereafter took over responsibility for instruction and recreation. This
left the Cleveland Public Library with the important and expensive
obligation to provide a collection of books.  

Revised Name, Same Great Service

Another milestone event that began in the new year is OLBPD revising its
name to the "Ohio Library for the Blind and Print Disabled." Instead of
using 'physically disabled,' the term 'print disabled' covers a broader
range of disability types that prevent someone from reading standard print.
It includes disabilities such as blindness; visual disabilities that cannot
be corrected with eyeglasses or lenses; physical disabilities that make it
hard to hold or manipulate a book or move their eyes as needed to read
print; and learning disabilities that make it difficult to comprehend or
process written text. There are more disabilities that experience problems
reading standard print that could benefit from using OLBPD services but are
not currently eligible.  

As the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled
explores expansion of disability types, the term 'print disabled' better
positions OLBPD to accommodate this growth. Plus, the revised name also
associates OLBPD more closely with NLS, and the services we provide
collectively.

Bundled Audio Cartridges Are On Their Way

Continuing to add to our milestones in 2022, OLBPD has started circulating
audio cartridges to patrons that contain more than one book bundled on them.
Cartridges are now produced on-demand, customized individually to each
patron based on their reading preferences and requests. By default, patrons
are set up to receive eight books per cartridge, and this amount can be
adjusted as needed.

All patrons receiving audio books from OLBPD will receive bundled books on
cartridges. Each cartridge includes an announcement when first inserted into
the player which explains to patrons that there is more than one book on the
cartridge. The announcement also features instructions on how to use the
player's Bookshelf feature to access and navigate through all the books on
the cartridge. Additionally, a print list of the books contained on the
cartridge is included on the reverse side of the mailing card insert. Once
the player begins reading a book, it will automatically move to the next
book on the cartridge until it reaches the end of the cartridge. Therefore,
if you start listening to the first book, the player will automatically read
through all the books on the cartridge without any additional navigation. 

When finished with a bundled cartridge, throw away the mailing card, and
return the cartridge in its container back to OLBPD. A return mailing
sticker was applied to the container and is hidden underneath the mailing
card. By removing the mailing card, the library's return address is shown on
the container. Please do not insert the mailing card into the container.
Again, simply throw the mailing card away. Please avoid writing or sticking
personal return address labels on the cartridges or containers. When we
check in books, there is a barcode printed on the cartridge which lets us
know who is returning the cartridge. Please contact OLBPD with any questions
about bundled cartridges or to adjust your service.

Braille e-Reader Update

OLBPD and the National Library Service (NLS) are moving forward with plans
to distribute braille e-readers to patrons. Originally, Ohio agreed to pilot
and test the Zoommax braille e-reader last year. However, NLS concluded the
pilot in March. With the conclusion of the pilot, NLS will instead be
sending the HumanWare braille e-readers for patron distribution that should
begin in the next few months. 

NLS will be sending enough braille e-readers for all our registered braille
patrons. Braille patrons can help by contacting OLBPD to confirm or decline
their interest in receiving a braille e-reader. Otherwise, someone from
OLBPD will be contacting braille patrons to check whether they wish to
receive an e-reader. E-readers will not be automatically sent to all braille
readers, only to those patrons who confirmed or requested to receive a
device. Thank you to those patrons who have already contacted OLBPD to
confirm their interest, as we have been keeping an active roster once the
e-readers are ready for delivery.  

Talking Book Topics in Large Print

NLS has informed network libraries that patrons subscribed to Talking Book
Topics (TBT) in large print will not receive the January-February 2022 issue
in paper format due to ongoing supply-chain issues and worldwide paper
shortages. Furthermore, NLS is uncertain when they can resume printing TBT.
The US Government Publishing Office (GPO) informed NLS that these problems
are expected to continue through the end of 2022, and likely beyond.

As a result, NLS is strongly encouraging its network libraries to notify
patrons receiving TBT in large print of some alternative formats available
to them. First, patrons can subscribe to the audio version of TBT, which
will include an order form in print. Patrons can also receive the audio
version of TBT January-February 2022 bundled on a cartridge sent by OLBPD.
NLS has assigned DB 106440 to the TBT January-February 2022 audio edition,
and patrons can reserve it and have it sent out on their next cartridge. 

Patrons can also access TBT January-February 2022 online in HTML (using a
web browser) and PDF (using Adobe Acrobat or similar program) formats on the
NLS website at www.loc.gov/nls/tbt <http://www.loc.gov/nls/tbt> . The web
format of TBT contains direct links to BARD for downloading or adding books
to wish lists, and TBT in PDF contains printable order forms for mailing.
TBT January-February 2022 in audio is also available on BARD and BARD
Mobile. Patrons can also learn about the latest titles added to BARD through
the "Recently added books and magazines" link on the BARD website or the
"Recently added to BARD" feature on the "Get Books" tab on the BARD Mobile
app. Lastly, TBT Abridged is available through Braille Book Review in
hardcopy braille and as an electronic braille BRF file on the NLS website at
www.loc.gov/nls/bbr <http://www.loc.gov/nls/bbr> .

OLBPD Spring Reading List

As the ice and snow slowly melt away, enjoy a new book to help weather
through cabin fever. Please remember that these titles may contain
descriptions of sex, strong language, or violence. 

"Criminal Mischief" by Stuart Woods - DB 106177 - Stone Barrington Suspense
"Mercy" by David Baldacci - DB 105787 - Atlee Pine Suspense

"The Dark Hours" by Michael Connelly - DB 105770 - Renee Ballard Mystery

"19 Yellow Moon Road" by Fern Michaels - DB 106412 - Suspense

"Flying Angels" by Danielle Steel - DB 105744 - Historical Fiction

"Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music" by David Grohl - DB 105313 -
Biography 

"The First-time Gardener" by Jessica Sowards - DB 105602 - Gardening

"King of the Blues: B.B. King" by Daniel DeVise - DB 105927 -Biography
"Heroes: Greek Myths Reimagined" by Stephen Fry - DB 105923 - Mythology

"Garbo" by Robert Gottlieb - DB 106040 - Stage and Screen Biography

Go Paperless!

          Electronic versions of the OLBPD Dimensions newsletter are
available from our website in audio, braille, and large print. Patrons can
be added to our email list to receive notice when the next edition is
available.

Ohio Library for the Blind 

and Physically Disabled

at Cleveland Public Library

17121 Lake Shore Boulevard

Cleveland, Ohio 44110

Toll Free: 1-800-362-1262

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