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G2S Project Code: 2020-CT-86390
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Matthew Geeza
Director Phone: 860-721-2021
Director Email: matthew.geeza@ct.gov
General Information
Title: Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: Founded in1968, the Connecticut State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) provides for the reading and information needs of Connecticut residents who are blind, visually disabled, physically disabled, or print disabled.  The LBPH is a member of the the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress, which is the federal program manager.  The National Library Service provides reading materials, equipment, operating procedures, and the network infrastructure while the Library for the Blind and the Physically Handicapped is the state agency providing the services to Connecticut residents. This year, total active readers numbered 5621. During the funding year, the Library for the Blind added 402 patrons and 269 patron accounts were suspended/made inactive. Institutions that borrowed included 36 libraries, 32 schools, 19 hospitals, and 123 nursing and convalescent homes.  In 2021, the Library for the Blind was reassigned to the CT State Library’s Division of Library Development (DLD) and as part of that process began developing more specific outcomes for its 2022 goals

State Goal: Access to Information
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$406,859.62
$321,890.71
$0.00
$728,750.33
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM)
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Circulation and Reader Advisory
Narrative:

During FY 2021, LBPH continued to serve patrons throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic.  Despite the challenges presented by Covid-19,LBPH was able to meet patrons needs throughout FY 2021.  The NLS’s Duplication on Demand (DoD) system for the Talking Books Service ensured that patrons received their requested materials.  DoD now provides NLS network libraries access to the NLS’s entire collection, which as of September 30,2021, included more than 170,000 titles. Patrons’ requests are sent by LPBH Reader’s Advisors to the LBPH’s Gutenberg DoD machine, where LBPH staff and volunteers load them onto book cartridges and send them to patrons via mail. During FY 2021, LBPH sent 30,442 DoD cartridges containing 162,432 books to LBPH patrons. Throughout this period, LBPH also participated in the recall of National Library Service for the Blind (NLS) book cartridges, sending all NLS book cartridges back to NLS.  This recall was necessary as the NLS and its network libraries, including LBPH, have made the full transition for individual cartridges for each book title to the DoD system outlined in the previous paragraph. Also, of note, Gordon Reddick retired as the LBPH director and was replaced by Matt Geeza, who started at LBPH on 11/1/2021. 

 


Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 179,913
Average number of items circulated / month: 14,922
Total number of ILL transactions: 64
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 6


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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: Yes
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 36
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 32
Other: 199
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:

Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:

Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
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: