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G2S Project Code: 2023-CO-93479
State: Colorado
Fiscal Year: 2023

Grantee
Colorado State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Nicolle Steffen
Director Phone: 303-727-9277
Director Email: steffen_n@cde.state.co.us

General Information
Title: Colorado Talking Book Library
State Project Code: 163Q-5301
Start Date: 10/01/2023
End Date: 09/30/2024
Abstract: The Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) provides free library services to the blind and print disabled residents of Colorado ensuring equitable access for all. Collections include audio and braille books available through the mail and online, as well as large print books and descriptive videos. Additional services available are online databases, reference and reader advisory services, and online public access to the library’s catalog through the KLAS circulation system. CTBL’s onsite studio provides recorded books and materials of local interest to supplement the national NLS collection (National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress).
State Goal: Services to Under-Served Populations

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$606,844.19

$523,933.05

$19,200.08

$1,149,977.32

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Literacy

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Winter and Summer Reading for Patrons Who are Blind or Print Disabled
Narrative: The Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) collaborated with the Denver Public Library to offer “Winter of Reading,” an activity-based reading program for adults. Program participants could win prizes if they completed at least five activities. CTBL also collaborated with the National Library Service for Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) on a summer reading program. It was an all-ages program that ties into the national Collaborative Summer Library Program and NLS activities. The theme was “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” Patrons who signed up for the program received a prize as an incentive. Participating patrons who completed the summer reading program had an opportunity to vote for a charitable organization that received a donation. For both programs, CTBL staff adapted activities and reading resources to ensure accessibility for all patrons. Prizes and incentives were supplied by the Friends of CTBL.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 45
Number of sessions in program: 2
Average number in attendance per session: 8
Number of times program administered: 1

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

Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: I am more aware of resources and services provided by the library.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 5: I am more likely to use other library resources and services.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Outreach to Groups and Individuals in the Blind and Print Disabled Community
Narrative: During FY23, CTBL staff participated in 26 outreach events, 20 of which were conducted in-person. Staff engaged a diverse range of audiences through activities such as older adult resource fairs, library training sessions, low vision support groups, and special education resource fairs for school districts. Staff visited the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind and the Colorado Center for the Blind, and participated in the National Federation for the Blind Colorado Annual Conference. Attendance at outreach events varied from several hundred to a dozen individuals. During these various events, staff promoted CTBL’s services, assisted new patrons in signing up, and connected with current users to discuss their experiences. Outreach activities have successfully disseminated information to hundreds of librarians and library staff, families and caregivers, and most importantly to potential patrons who express their gratitude for the library and the services it provides.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Combined in-person & virtual

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 30
Number of presentations/performances administered: 26
Average number in attendance per session: 30

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

Public Libraries: 5
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 5
Other: 13

Activity Details
Title: Reader Advisory and Patron Services
Narrative: At CTBL, Reader Advisor librarians played a critical role in connecting blind and print disabled patrons with accessible reading materials and services. Through phone consultations, in-person assistance, and email and written correspondence, they facilitated each step of the library experience—from setting up accounts and helping patrons select books to managing service needs and offering technical support, such as operational assistance with the braille e-readers. Their dedicated help ensures that all patrons, regardless of visual or physical ability, have equitable access to reading materials, empowering individuals across Colorado who rely on accessible formats.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 17,206
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 1,434

Partner Information

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

Activity Details
Title: Local Collection Development & Technology Acquistion
Narrative: The Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) maintained a local collection of large print books purchased for the use of patrons and libraries statewide. To supplement the National Library Service (NLS) collection which is available to qualified patrons, CTBL acquired braille and print-braille materials specifically tailored to young readers and individuals new to braille. Titles of local significance—such as books by Colorado authors and works focused on the state’s history—are selected for production in CTBL’s in-house recording studio. These locally produced audiobooks are made available both within Colorado and nationally to individuals who are blind or print disabled.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 10
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 32
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 1,550
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 69

Partner Information

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
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: 113
Academic Libraries: 27
SLAA: 50
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 171
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Production & Duplication of Audio, Large Print, & Braille Materials
Narrative: The Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) offered on-demand duplication (DoD) for audiobooks, providing patrons access to any title in the collection anytime. Patrons can also download books directly from BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download app) onto their phones or tablets. Additionally, CTBL News is distributed to patrons in their chosen format: large print, audio, electronic, or braille. In the onsite recording studio, CTBL staff and volunteers produced new audiobooks on topics of local interest, such as Colorado history or works by Colorado authors. The library also converted analog recordings to digital, enhancing sound quality and navigability, thereby improving accessibility for readers. These initiatives expanded the collection and make materials accessible across the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) network. Currently, over 830 books recorded by CTBL are included in the national catalog and are available to talking book patrons in Colorado and nationwide.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 67
Number of physical items: 58,408
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: 50
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Analog to Digital Conversion of Local Audio Book Recordings
Narrative: The Colorado Talking Book Library continued to convert analog recordings to digital formats, facilitating both the circulation and preservation of these older materials. The conversion process included quality and formatting adjustments, as well as navigation features, to make the recordings more accessible and navigable for patrons.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Content
Mode: Preservation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items conserved, relocated to protective storage, rehoused, or for which other preservation-appropriate physical action was taken: 0
Number of items reformatted, migrated, or for which other digital preservation-appropriate action was taken: 20
Number of preservation plans/frameworks produced/updated (i.e. preservation readiness plans, data management plans): 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 50
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Cataloging
Narrative: Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) staff catalog all locally recorded and purchased materials (e.g., large print books). CTBL staff and volunteers also reviewed, corrected, and supplemented catalog records downloaded from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) by adding or correcting information. MARC records for NLS materials are downloaded monthly and updated as needed. These efforts improved access for patrons and staff to resources in all formats, including audio, braille, large print, and video.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Number of items made discoverable to the public: 8,135
Number of collections made discoverable to the public: 2
Number of metadata plans/frameworks produced/updated: 0

Partner Information

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

Activity Details
Title: Materials Lending
Narrative: Serving the individuals who are blind or print disabled, the Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) circulated materials in the following formats: audio, braille, large print, and descriptive video (DVD and Blu-ray). CTBL also distributed, maintained, and repaired audio playback equipment, braille eReaders, and various accessories. Additionally, patrons can access and download books online from BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download), an app developed and maintained by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Circulation of the books and the specially adapted equipment (e.g., audio machines and braille e-Readers) ensures equitable access to reading materials for individuals who cannot read standard print.
Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

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

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 781,700
Average number of items circulated / month: 65,142
Total number of ILL transactions: 55
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 5

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 113
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 50
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) consistently delivered high-quality, responsive customer service to ensure that members of the blind and print-disabled community receive equitable access to library services. To assess the library's performance, a biennial customer satisfaction survey was conducted with a random sample of CTBL patrons. The most recent survey results reported a 97% overall satisfaction rate, with 82% of respondents rating their experience as excellent, 15% as good, and 2% as fair. No respondents indicated poor satisfaction. Staff courtesy received a 99% satisfaction rate, with 87% of respondents rating it as excellent and 12% as good. CTBL Patrons have reported a variety of outcomes from their use of the library, including reading for enjoyment, keeping their mind active, providing companionship, and reading for information/nonfiction. Specific outcomes cited by patrons are access to braille materials, staying current, content for conversations, coping, reading variety, education and learning, entertainment, and participation in book clubs. Library patrons and their loved ones often share the importance of the library and the impact it has on patrons’ lives: “My great grandpa was able to use this service at age 102 all the way in Laporte, CO, and I will never forget how easy CTBL made it for him.” “Just a note to say thank you for your program that allowed me to enjoy many hours of ‘reading’ that I would not have been able to do without your service. God bless all you do to help others.” “You have been such an incredible resource and we are so grateful! Thank you for the service you provide. It has been a lifesaver through past years of vision problems. Gene uses the BARD app all of the time and it has gotten him through so many tough times and proves his quality of life on a daily basis.” “I would like to thank you for everything you do for us! Not only is everyone very kind, but you have gone out of your way to ensure I have the specific books and authors I enjoy. This also goes for my neighbor, who also uses your outstanding services. I recommend your services to anyone that is visually impaired! Thank you for all you do.” To increase the likelihood that patrons’ reading and information needs are met, The Colorado Talking Book Library (CTBL) operated a local recording program, offering patrons access to audiobooks and magazines that focus on local interests, including works by Colorado authors and nonfiction titles about the state. This program also allowed patrons to request specific titles for recording. These recordings are added to the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) collection, expanding access to patrons nationwide. Additionally, CTBL recorded public service materials, such as Colorado's annual voters' guide, the "Blue Book." This ensured patrons remain informed citizens and voters. The library’s large print collection is a locally curated resource that can be shared not only with individuals eligible for CTBL services but also with libraries across Colorado. This collection promotes literacy, information access, and the joy of reading for patrons throughout the state, especially in rural/remote areas.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The above outcomes and findings are important for future programming planning because they highlight the critical role of accessible library materials and services in ensuring equitable access for all readers who are blind or print disabled. The overall satisfaction level among CTBL patrons has remained consistent over the years, with 97% of respondents most recently reporting satisfaction with the service. Patrons consistently express gratitude for CTBL’s services and appreciation for its staff. The delivery of these services plays a vital role in enhancing individuals' lives, keeping them connected to the world, and alleviating feelings of isolation and depression. Everything CTBL does—outreach, programming, materials selection, cataloguing, audio book recording, reader advisory, and mail operations—is focused on “Patrons First.” The library will continue to put patrons first by relying on past success while embracing a culture of continuous improvement.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
One important lesson in providing library services to patrons of a talking book library is the necessity of meeting them where they are. Similar to any other demographic, individuals in the blind and print-disabled community have varied wants and needs from a library. Delivering equitable service requires offering materials in multiple specialized formats and utilizing accessible equipment. It also involves providing customer service in the manner and timing that best suits patrons. From braille e-readers to large print books and audio book players, each patron deserves personalized attention, and the library must be prepared to accommodate their individual needs. Another crucial lesson in serving a statewide population of potential patrons is the importance of actively seeking out individuals who may benefit from the service. Outreach efforts should extend beyond the library to include community engagement, educational institutions, and care professions. Many people are often unaware of the services available to the blind and print-disabled. Staff at CTBL frequently hear from patrons that the library’s services have reintroduced books and reading into their lives.
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: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeYes, this is an exemplary program, as demonstrated by the high customer satisfaction ratings and the heartfelt patron feedback. The small, but mighty CTBL staff serve the entire state (8th largest) with a “Patron First” attitude and dedication to equitable access for the blind and print disabled community. One patron’s daughter commented, “[My mother] was a devoted patron of your wonderful service. I think she ‘read’ more books via the Talking Book Library than she had for decades. She introduced it to her elderly sister in Pennsylvania, and now she is a faithful patron at age 95…I cannot say enough in praise of your service.”

Project Tags: Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, Talking Book Library, Braille