For the second post in our series highlighting best practices in assistive technology, we’re focusing on the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (OLBPD).\u00a0 OLBPD partners with the State Library of Ohio Talking Book Program to serve as a Regional Library for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress.\u00a0 Through this partnership, eligible Ohio borrowers may receive braille and audio materials via postage-free mail.\u00a0 Their collection includes audio and\u00a0Braille books and magazines, described DVDs and Blu-Rays, and Playaway pre-loaded digital products.\u00a0\u00a0Today\u2019s interview is with Will Reed, OLBPD Manager, who shares more information about OLBPD\u2019s resources and community impacts.<\/p>\n
Will Reed:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>OLBPD serves as the regional library for the State of Ohio as part of the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled, providing free audio and braille library materials to eligible patrons.\u00a0 In addition to this role, OLBPD provides library services to patrons with print disabilities in the greater Cleveland area through our parent agency, Cleveland Public Library.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Will Reed:\u00a0 Information on our adaptive technology (AT) can be found at this link:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/cpl.org\/aboutthelibrary\/ohio-library-for-the-blind-physically-disabled\/adaptive-technologies\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Will Reed:\u00a0 Some of the notable impacts revolve around improving the quality of life for our patrons.\u00a0 For some, it\u2019s just simply learning how to use adaptive technology; for others it\u2019s learning important job skills or working on a resume or homework.\u00a0 For others it\u2019s recreational, being able to interact with family and friends.\u00a0 What\u2019s important is that OLBPD provides free access and training.\u00a0 These go hand-in-hand.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Will Reed:\u00a0 We ask them.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Will Reed:\u00a0 I\u2019m an advocate of universal design, so my first recommendation is don\u2019t just address adaptive technologies.\u00a0 Make it part of a larger initiative to create an accessible and inclusive experience for as many patrons as possible, those with or without disabilities.\u00a0 Have you heard patrons complain because some things are too easy to access?\u00a0 I haven\u2019t and I\u2019ve been working at OLBPD for 20 years.\u00a0 The point being that if a library is going to focus on placing adaptive technologies then they should also think about patrons with disabilities being able to get into the building, find them, and then use them.\u00a0 Most libraries are doing great programs already, and these should be accessible to patrons with disabilities.\u00a0 Nonetheless, going back to AT, work with your patrons, local disability consumer groups and community agencies, etc.\u00a0 Assess the needs and build a learning and using experience around that need.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n To learn more about OLBPD and its services, visit their website at\u00a0http:\/\/olbpd.cpl.org<\/a>\u00a0or follow @OLBPD (https:\/\/twitter.com\/olbpd<\/a>) on Twitter.\u00a0 Feel free to post any comments or questions, and stay tuned for another interview next month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This post addresses ALSC Core Competencies I. Commitment to Client Group and II. Reference and User Services.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jaime Eastman is a Public Services Librarian, Senior\u00a0and the Family Place Coordinator at the Harrington Library, one of the\u00a0Plano Public Libraries<\/b><\/a>.\u202f She currently serves as the chair of the Children and Technology Committee.\u00a0 She can be reached at\u00a0jaimee@plano.gov<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For the second post in our series highlighting best practices in assistive technology, we’re focusing on the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled (OLBPD).\u00a0 OLBPD partners with the State Library of Ohio Talking Book Program to serve as a Regional Library for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress.\u00a0 Through this partnership, eligible Ohio borrowers may receive braille and audio materials via postage-free mail.\u00a0 Their collection includes audio and\u00a0Braille books and magazines, described DVDs and Blu-Rays, and Playaway pre-loaded digital products.\u00a0\u00a0Today\u2019s interview is with Will Reed, OLBPD Manager, who shares more information about OLBPD\u2019s resources and community impacts. What is your library\u2019s role within the disability community? Will Reed:\u00a0\u00a0OLBPD serves as the regional library for the State of Ohio as part of the National Library Service (NLS) for the Blind and Print Disabled, providing free audio and braille library materials…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":147,"featured_media":21902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[155,141,1605,1606],"tags":[1755,1850,1500,1858,1857],"class_list":["post-21901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogger-children-and-technology-committee","category-children-technology","category-commitment-to-client-group","category-reference-and-user-services","tag-accessibility","tag-adaptive-technology","tag-children-and-technology","tag-ohio-library-for-the-blind-physically-disabled","tag-olbpd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/147"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21901"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21901\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What assistive technologies do you have available at your library?<\/h2>\n
What community impacts have you seen as a result?<\/h2>\n
How do you determine your community\u2019s specific needs and interests?<\/h2>\n
What recommendations do you have for libraries hoping to add or expand assistive technologies?<\/h2>\n