| Institutional Services -- Talking Book and Braille Services |
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Definition
Talking Book Service is made available to institutions in Oregon by the Oregon State Library’s Talking Book and Braille Services (TBABS). This service is provided to institutions and agencies whose clientele may include blind, low vision, and physically disabled persons eligible for materials from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). Institutions and agencies include hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing and convalescent homes, rehabilitation facilities, schools, and public libraries.
Library service to institutions is Free. All materials are sent and returned postage paid, no cost is incurred by the library patron.
Responsibility
The institution should assign a specific staff member to be responsible for equipment, talking books, and any other materials loaned by TBABS to an institution. These items are federal property, and institutions are accountable for their locations and condition. Equipment and materials should be returned to TBABS when they are no longer being used.
Enrollment
The director or authorized representative of the institution completes a TBABS Institutional service application and returns it to Talking Book and Braille Services. Upon receipt of the enrollment application, a TBABS staff person will make contact with the institution and complete the registration process.
We encourage institutions to use talking book equipment and books in three ways:
- Provide a demonstration to eligible users about what is available to them as a registered individual patron of the Talking Book library. We supply and maintain equipment and books to the individual patron. Again there is no cost for eligible persons.
- Provide temporary talking book service to “short stay” eligible users who would not otherwise register for service.
- Use the equipment and talking books in group activities in the institution for those who are print disabled and/or physically disabled.
Equipment
The number of Talking Book machines assigned to an institution depends upon the number of eligible users to be served, and the setting in which the machines will be used. One machine for an average of four to six users is standard. Accessories such as headphones, pillow speakers, and remote control units are available, but only where a need is demonstrated.
Contact
The institution’s staff member responsible for equipment and book oversight is encouraged to maintain contact with TBABS, giving updates on program needs and usage. TBABS staff will also maintain communications with the institutions on an active basis. It is to the mutual benefit of the institution and TBABS to maintain ongoing dialogue regarding patron library services.
Institutional Application
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