As a result of a successful PLQIM bid, Falkirk libraries recently introduced a new service for visually impaired and physically disabled homebound library members. The Home Sound project involves the provision of DAISY players and CD stock for distribution to appropriate customers.
The main aim of the project was to provide adapted CD players and spoken word resources for sight-impaired and physically disabled homebound library members to borrow. Spoken word resources are increasingly available in CD format only but we found that many homebound users did not have access to CD players and that commercially available CD players were not always suitable for use by visually impaired or physically disadvantaged users. We were awarded £30,000 in a bid from the PLQIM Fund, administered by SLIC, which allowed us to purchase the DAISY Players and CD stock.
The DAISY players were supplied by the RNIB, who offered a considerable discount. This enabled us to buy more players than we had originally planned and also allowed for more of the funding to be spent on CDs.
The DAISY players have large clear buttons which make them suitable for both visually impaired users and those with decreased motor skills. The players also have a number of useful features: the CD can be restarted where it stopped, tracks can be bookmarked and the machine can be set to turn off automatically. These features make the players much more useful in every day use, especially for users who are reliant on more accessible media. The players are very robust and the only problems we had resulted from two CDs being inserted at the same time. In this case, the player was returned to the RNIB who sorted out the problem for us.
The DAISY CDs hold unabridged books on just one disc which makes the process easier for users. They are also very reasonably priced, although the packaging is not always as attractive as the commercial audio books.
58 of the players are on loan and we will be investigating funding possibilities to buy more players in the future.
Staff providing the Homebound Service were involved in choosing the stock which was purchased from a number of suppliers. The stock has been catalogued and tagged to provide statistics of use. In addition, the CDs have been divided into collections by genre to allow library staff to monitor the popularity of various types of material. This will then inform future stock choices.
A number of the library assistants who deal with the homebound service were invited to a training morning to look at the DAISY players and stock. The RNIB arranged for a local volunteer to attend and demonstrate the features available on the players. The Homebound Assistant based at Library Support has designed the logo for the project which is being used on the players and CDs and the service was named by one of the other library assistants dealing with the service.
A member of staff who is visually impaired has been involved in producing simplified instructions for using the machines and has advised on the layout of a large print catalogue. This staff member has also liaised with the Sensory Centre in Falkirk who will assist in producing a catalogue on CD which will be voiced by one of the library assistants at Library Support. We are also looking at the possibility that they may be able to supply the catalogue in Braille. We have decided to expand the catalogue to include a short introduction to each title and so the final version has yet to be made available.
The DAISY players are issued to individuals and to sheltered housing complexes on a six month loan. This allows us to exchange the players for checking and PAT testing if necessary. CDs are issued on a normal three week loan basis to individuals and six week loan to institutions. Users receive a large print catalogue of stock from which requests can be made. For the term of the project, the stock will not be available for use by library members who are not Homebound users. This restriction will be lifted at the end of the project.
As the players are being distributed we are recording current use of materials and formats. This will then be revisited at intervals over the next twelve months. Users are currently being asked for their comments on the players and the service. CD issues and requests are being recorded and more stock in certain genres is being purchased.
Overall, the Homebound users who have DAISY players have been delighted with them. We have had some users who are techno phobic and found them a bit difficult initially but we have managed to come up with solutions to simplify things.
The project was very much a team effort by staff involved in the Homebound Library Service and we were delighted when we won the trophy for the Service Accessibility in Falkirk Council’s Celebrating Success 2007 awards.
Information provided by Gil Vick, Principal Librarian (Support Services), Library Support, Falkirk Council Library Service
This area is currently being developed and contributions from the Scottish library and information community would be welcomed. Please send details of any relevant projects to Gillian Hanlon.
Scotland's Information
Research Collections Online
Scottish Library and Information Resources
Scottish Distributed Digital Library
Scottish Collections Network
Co-operative Information Retrieval Network for Scotland
© Send comments, suggestions and queries about SLAINTE to Penny Robertson. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 UK: Scotland License 13-Jul-2009
