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G2S Project Code: 2022-MT-91799
State: Montana
Fiscal Year: 2022

Grantee
Montana State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Marilyn Bennett
Director Phone: 406-444-5352
Director Email: mbennett@mt.gov

General Information
Title: Talking Book Services
State Project Code: LSTA 22 TBL
Start Date: 07/01/2022
End Date: 06/30/2023
Abstract: Montana State Library restructured Talking Book Services to leverage contracted resources available through the Utah State Library (USL). The new contract with USL included book cartridge and Braille circulation, titles available through download on demand services, reader’s advisory, and some book recording. By partnering with USL, Montana State Library increased the number of Talking Book patrons, spread awareness of services, and engaged in recording innovations. Since initiating the contract, circulation nearly doubled, and 278 new patrons established service.
State Goal: Outreach and Lifelong Learning

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$33,190.02

$203,382.06

$0.00

$236,572.08

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Other

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Talking Book Outreach
Narrative: The Talking Book outreach and research librarian provided information about library services for patrons who cannot read standard print due to a visual, physical, or reading disability. Attendance at five professional meetings and conferences such as the Montana Library Association and the Montana Association of the Blind helped the library form vital connections with organizations serving the blind and low-vision community. The outreach coordinator also presented training for nursing home activity directors to help connect qualifying residents with adaptive resources. Through these events and consultations, staff reached 251 people.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Combined in-person & virtual

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 251
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 21

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: Yes
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: 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: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1

Activity Details
Title: Recording Montana Books
Narrative: Montana State Library's recording program captured audio for books of regional interest, including those by Montana authors, so that they can be enjoyed by patrons with disabilities impacting their ability to read standard print. This year, staff and volunteers assisted with converting 29 titles which were loaded to the National Library Service (NLS) Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) library for use by patrons across the world. For example, the library recorded "Or Perish in the Attempt: The Hardship and Medicine of the Lewis & Clark Expedition" by David J. Peck. The non-fiction title combines the adventurous story of Lewis and Clark's 8,000-mile journey with information about the group's medical travails and treatments.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 29
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1

Activity Details
Title: Partnership with Utah State Library
Narrative: Montana State Library established an agreement with Utah State Library (USL) to provide Talking Book circulation and readers advisory services to Montana patrons. Through this agreement, USL circulated 141,019 items in Braille, digital, and large type formats to 1,394 readers, an increase of 79% from the previous year. Beyond borrowing from Utah's collection, readers downloaded 19,700 books, magazines, and music resources from the National Library Service (NLS) Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) library. Patron feedback: "Years ago I got my husband a reader from the state library which he enjoyed for many, many years. It was such a joy for him to be able to listen to the books and enjoy all the wonderful stories, mostly Montana history and westerns. My grandfather, who also was blind, had one of the old record player devices and very much enjoyed it." Talking Book patron, March 2023; "Thank you so much for the use of the players and bringing some joy into my family members. My dad was very proud of his player. He often showed it off to his friends in his retirement home." - Talking Book patron, May 2023; "Alan enjoyed listening to the books when he could no longer read. Often he and I both listened and enjoyed together. Thank you for the wonderful service." - Talking Book patron June 2023
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: 160,719
Average number of items circulated / month: 13,393
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
In July 2022, MSL experienced a major flood. Water damage rendered the Talking Book processing area unusable, forcing building rehabilitation workers to box and move circulation equipment and the entire cartridge collection to an offsite location. Thanks to the contract with USL, Montana met its Talking Book patrons’ needs without interruption. Since that time, MSL has relocated to its current building at 1201 11th Avenue. This move included a reduction in square footage, and the space could no longer accommodate the recording studio. Thanks to a partnership with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), the studio has a new home. Its location at MDT allows MSL and other state agencies to access professional recording equipment and opens the way for new products like podcasts.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The opportunity to reimagine recording services brought MSL staff outside of the building to work on an innovative project with Utah State Library and the National Library Service (NLS). Montana authors M.L. Smoker and Natalie Peeterse met with a narrative script author from NLS to adapt their graphic novel Thunderous for blind and print-disabled patrons. This unique script captured both the illustrations and dialog from the novel which is about Aiyana, a Lakota teenager. MSL staff and the authors worked with Utah’s recording studio to record most of the novel. The authors plan to record the remainder of the novel with Native voices using the studio on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning. This exciting production of a Montana graphic novel is an excellent example of how partnership helps MSL deliver the very best resources to its patrons.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Regional partnerships such as the contract with Utah State Library help Montana deliver more robust and resilient services to its patrons. Montana State Library now offers a digital first model instead of a physical collection which allows staff to focus more on outreach and coordination of statewide efforts within a smaller building footprint.
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:
Yes
Explain:
With the studio now offsite, the Montana State Library anticipates a change in effort regarding the recording program. As the equipment will be shared with other agencies, the library will likely observe a reduction in Talking Book recordings but an increase in other types of state-produced content.
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: talking book, blind, low vision