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G2S Project Code: 2020-SD-84829
State: South Dakota
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
South Dakota State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Kate Kosior
Director Phone: 605-773-5081
Director Email: Kate.Kosior@state.sd.us
General Information
Title: Braille and Talking Book Library Services (statewide)
State Project Code: 42
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: The SD Braille and Talking Book Library (SDBTBL) provides access to reading material in accessible formats for all South Dakotans who qualify for the service. These patrons could be visually impaired, or have physical or learning disabilities. Citizens access the SDBTBL by a toll-free 800 number and by email. Reader advisory staff consult with the patrons (or their families/caregivers) and facilitate their use of the program’s services.

The SDBTBL partners with South Dakota Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired, South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired as well as local assisted living facilities, nursing homes and the local VA hospitals to provide talking book services to as many citizens as possible. Packets are sent to new patrons that include appropriate brochures from Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Veterans Administration to promote their services. 

The KLAS database of holdings is available online for those patrons who use computers. This database allows patrons and staff to browse the library catalog, helping find titles seamlessly. Digital players have been distributed to all registered patrons. Information about the services of SDBTBL is distributed to clients through a quarterly newsletter (print, email and recorded formats), by listservs, news releases to the general press, and by meeting with client groups / organizations. Site visits are made to 90 public libraries and 255 nursing homes/assisted living facilities that have depository collections. Staff also present at conferences and other events across the state.

There are currently 401 patrons registered to use BARD. There are also over 127,000 digital books and digital magazines available for download from BARD. In addition, there are over 900 descriptive audio videos in the collection. Patrons also have access to South Dakota interest books and magazines recorded by staff and volunteers across the state at one of five recording studios.

The textbook division works with local schools, the Dept. of Education’s Office of Special Education, and the SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to ensure students have Braille, large print or special format textbooks for the school year. There are 290 Braille textbooks and large print textbooks that are provided to SD schools. 

There are six FTE staff in the SDBTBL program, including a full time program manager.



State Goal: Strengthen SDSL collections (print, media and electronic) to meet the specialized needs of the state's citizens
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$439,414.52
$76,492.83
$0.00
$515,907.35
Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Adult Literacy
Reading Program (Not Summer Reading)
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Summer and Winter Reading programs
Narrative:

We continue to serve the youth in our state working with schools to ensure accessible school textbooks are provided to students. We also attend to youth recreational reading needs and encourage year round literacy. Our Summer & Winter Reading programs continue to see good participation numbers.


Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Digital


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 1,709
Average number of items circulated / month: 341
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 90
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 260
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Audio book and Descriptive DVD services
Narrative:

The SDBTBL provides access to reading material in accessible formats for all South Dakotans who qualify for the service. Citizens access the SDBTBL by a toll-free 800 number and by email. Reader advisory staff consult with the patrons (or their families/caregivers) and facilitate their use of the program’s services.

The KLAS database of holdings is available online for those patrons who use computers. This database allows patrons and staff to browse our catalog, helping find titles seamlessly. Digital players have been distributed to all registered patrons. Information about the services of SDBTBL is distributed to clients through a quarterly newsletter (print, email and recorded formats), by listservs, news releases to the general press, and by meeting with client groups / organizations. 

There are currently 357 patrons registered to use BARD.  There are also over 135,000 digital books and digital magazines available for download from BARD. In addition, there are over 75,000 items available in the in-house collection along with over 800 descriptive audio videos in the collection. Patrons also have access to South Dakota interest books and magazines recorded by staff and volunteers across the state at one of five recording studios.





Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Digital


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 160,127
Average number of items circulated / month: 13,344
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 90
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 260
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Activity Details
Title: Large Print and Braille Textbook services
Narrative:

The textbook division works with local schools, the Dept. of Education’s Office of Special Education, and the SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to ensure students have braille or special format textbooks for the school year. There were 294 Braille textbooks, and large print textbooks were also provided to SD schools. The SDBTBL manager serves on the Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired Advisory Council.



Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical
Other: large print and braille textbooks delivered to the schools for use by the student needing this textbook.


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 626
Average number of items circulated / month: 52
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 90
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 260
Other: 0
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The SD Braille and Talking Book Library (SDBTBL) provides books in audio or braille format for South Dakota citizens unable to use standard print. The program provides both leisure reading for all ages and alternative format textbooks for K-12 students. It also provides descriptive DVDs, with over 800 titles available. The SDBTBL ensures inclusion of those unable to use standard print in all library and educational services. We serve over 2,000 patrons through individual registration, or via our outreach to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior centers or in coordination with 89 public libraries who act as depositories of smaller loaned collections and equipment. We continue to serve the youth in our state working with schools to ensure accessible school textbooks are provided to students. We also attend to youth recreational reading needs and encourage year round literacy. Our Annual Summer and Winter Reading programs had good participation with our youth. Our Summer & Winter Reading programs continue to see good participation numbers. We have expanded our recording studios to include Vermillion Public Library and Rapid City Public Library. In 2021, we started the process to add a studio in Aberdeen at the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The Sioux Falls recording studio received sound proof padding to ensure high quality recording. The Download on Demand platform was launched to better serve our patrons.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
We provide resources for the blind and physically disabled to be independent and continue to be life-long learners. There are many more qualified candidates that we need to reach out to and serve. Many of our patrons express to their reader advisors that they would not know what to do without this program and their books.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
As we see fewer individuals staying in their own homes as they age, but rather choosing to become part of a senior community, we have reached out to institutions so that they can become "depository libraries" of our resources. We circulate those collections. This is becoming increasingly popular and well received.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: blind, visually impaired, disabilities