View Project

G2S Project Code: 2024-OR-95284
State: Oregon
Fiscal Year: 2024
Grantee
State Library of Oregon

Project Director
Director Name: Jen Robinson
Director Phone: 503-378-5391
Director Email: jen.robinson@slo.oregon.gov
General Information
Title: Talking Book and Braille Library - Match-Only
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2024
End Date: 09/30/2025
Abstract: The Oregon Talking Book and Braille Library, a division of the State Library of Oregon, promotes and fosters the joy of reading and lifelong learning for Oregonians who are print-disabled. It is a free library for any Oregonian with a print disability, which includes visual, physical, and reading impairments, and serves as the regional library in Oregon for the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) network. This year, the library circulated 442,275 items and served 5,545 patrons.
State Goal: Break down barriers
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$0.00
$823,218.00
$0.00
$823,218.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Adult Literacy
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Circulation
Narrative: The Talking Book and Braille Library circulated 442,275 items to 5,545 patrons. The collection is ever-growing and currently consists of 175,914 books on Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) and 920 Descriptive DVDs. Talking Books also used their recording studio to have 2 books by Oregon-based authors recorded and added to the NLS catalog.
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: 442,275
Average number of items circulated / month: 36,856
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: 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
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
832 new patron registrations were activated, and staff had 15,561 interactions with patrons. Overall satisfaction with Talking Books remains very high, with 99% of annual survey respondents strongly agreeing or agreeing that the Talking Book and Braille Library has added value to their life.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
In the annual survey, many patrons mentioned mental health benefits when explaining the value of Talking Books. Connections to stories, the larger world, and patrons’ own identities as readers are integral to feelings of wellness and inclusion. As one respondent wrote, “I lost my vision in 2004. I felt I had lost my life as a person. I was useless. I started getting books from the library and the world opened up to me.” Several patrons mentioned how many hours a day/how many books a week they read. Some called the books their main source of entertainment, while others focused on the new things they’ve learned and expanded horizons gained through reading. Talking books are an essential part of many patrons’ lives and offer resources not available or accessible anywhere else. As a respondent wrote, “I am writing for my handicapped daughter. Her world is larger and more exciting and fulfilling because of Talking Books. Thank you for a greatly appreciated service.”
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
In survey, the most common “pain point” seemed to be the lack of real time, direct access to staff. Staff are making a conscious effort to give more useful information at the outset and providing better resources via the website, on audio, and in printed materials. Patrons have asked Talking Books to “refine automatic selection of books to better reflect [past] selection of books” and “improve variety of genres” over the phone and via email prior to the survey. Staff are amid a large subject and catalog improvements project that should go far in addressing these concerns.
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:
Yes
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 books, braille, print impaired