Contact: Jennifer Patterson, State Librarian
503-378-4367
June 17, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Talking Book and Braille Library open house on June 27 celebrates 50 years at State Library
Salem, Ore. – The Talking Book and Braille Library will have an open house on June 27 from 2-4 p.m., to celebrate 50 years at the State Library of Oregon in Salem. The library was relocated from Portland to Salem in July of 1969.
More than 100 library patrons and staff members will be at the event to discuss their experiences and talk about the many ways Oregonians benefit from the services and resources the Talking Book and Braille Library offers.
A short program is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., when State Librarian Jennifer Patterson and Talking Books Program Manager Susan Westin plan to speak. Talking Book and Braille Advisory Council Chair, Mary Lee Turner, will share her experience as a library patron for 66 years.
The names of three individuals who each donated $10,000 or more to the library’s endowment fund will be added to the donor board. Scheduled activities also include a presentation on the library’s history and tours will be available.
The open house will be in room 102/103 (first floor) of the State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301.
The Talking Book and Braille Library is available free of charge to any Oregonian who is print-disabled, which includes visual, physical, and reading impairments. The collection is ever-growing and currently has more than 80,000 titles in audio, 19,000 titles in Braille, 95 audio and Braille magazines, and over 150 descriptive videos.
To learn more about Talking Books, visit www.ORtalkingbooks.org.
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Salem, Ore. – The Talking Book and Braille Library is celebrating 50 years at the State Library of Oregon in Salem. The library was relocated from the Library Association of Portland to the State Library’s Church Street Annex in July of 1969.
The 1969 Oregon Legislature appropriated $80,000 for the library to begin providing Talking Book and Braille Services to Oregonians who are blind and print-disabled in partnership with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at the Library of Congress.
The Talking Book and Braille Library began operation with seven staff members. Circulation at the time was averaging 11,000 items per month to 1,700 users, including record discs, two-track cassette tapes, Braille, and large print books. Today Talking Books circulates on average 31,000 items per month to 5,200 users, but still has a staff of seven.
The types of materials available through Talking Books has changed as technology has advanced. The first four-track cassette book (“Roots” by Alex Haley) was recorded in 1977. Digital players and books first became available for patrons in 2009. All patrons can get a free audio book player to play specially formatted audio books.
The web-based Braille and Audio Reading Download system (BARD) from the National Library Service (NLS) was introduced in April 2009. BARD gave registered users unlimited and immediate access to the entire NLS digital audio and electronic Braille collection. The BARD app for iOS devices was added in 2013 and for Android in 2015.
The Talking Book and Braille Library is available free of charge to any Oregonian who is print-disabled, which includes visual, physical, and reading impairments. The collection is ever-growing and currently has more than 80,000 titles in audio, 19,000 titles in Braille, 95 audio and Braille magazines, and over 150 descriptive videos.
To learn more, visit www.ORtalkingbooks.org. The public can access the collections anytime online or in-person from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m.
Salem, Ore. - The Government Information and Library Services Advisory Council will meet on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, from 9 - 11 a.m. at the State Library in room B9. The agenda is included.
This is a public meeting; those who would like to attend should contact Jerry Curry at 503-378-5008 or ry.w.curry@state.or.us">jerry.w.curry@state.or.us, so appropriate arrangements may be made.
The council advises the State Library Board and provides insight, consultation, and advice on strategies for better serving the information and research needs of Oregon state government agencies. The council assists Government Services staff in creating effective strategies and programs to inform state employees about Government Services and to train state employees in the use of these services.
Membership is representative of various Oregon state agencies. The current member list is available on our website: www.oregon.gov/Library/operations/Pages/Government-Services-Advisory-Council.aspx
Questions or concerns can be addressed to Jerry Curry, 503-378-5008 or ry.w.curry@state.or.us">jerry.w.curry@state.or.us.
Sign language interpretation will be provided for the public if requested 48 hours before the meeting; notice 72 hours before the meeting is preferred. Handouts of meeting materials may also be requested in alternate formats 72 hours before the meeting. Requests may be made to Jerry Curry at 503-378-5008 or ry.w.curry@state.or.us">jerry.w.curry@state.or.us.
Government Information & Library Services Advisory Council Meeting Agenda
State Library, Meeting Room B9 (or by phone)
250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR
Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 9 – 11 a.m.
AGENDA
9:00 - Introductions (5 mins/All)
- Approval of minutes from last meeting (Curry)
www.oregon.gov/Library/operations/Pages/Government-Services-Advisory-Council.aspx
9:05 - Introduction of & announcements by the State Librarian (10 mins/Patterson)
9:15 - Manager updates (10 mins/Agata)
9:25 - EBSCO trial databases (30 mins/Coughenour)
9:55 - 2019 Government Services Customer Satisfaction Survey results/feedback (10 mins/Curry)
10:05 - Group brainstorm/embedded librarian program (20 mins/All)
10:25 - Recruitment of new members/Advisory Council Chair (10 mins/Curry)
10:35 - Round robin (15 mins/All)
10:50 - New business (5 mins/Curry)
- By-law review & approval
10:55 - Wrap-up: Discussion and action item review (5 mins/Curry)
Salem, Ore. - The State Library Board will meet at 9 a.m. at the State Library, on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Ann Malkin of Bend will chair the meeting.
Sign language interpretation will be provided for the public if requested 48 hours before the meeting; notice 72 hours before the meeting is preferred. Handouts of meeting materials may also be requested in alternate formats 72 hours before the meeting. Requests may be made to Eva Luna at 503-378-5015 or eva.luna@state.or.us.
STATE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
JUNE 11, 2019
State Library of Oregon, Salem
Ann Malkin, Chair
Agenda
9:00 a.m. Approval of the minutes –April 2019 meeting Malkin
9:05 Reports of Board Chair & members Malkin
9:45 Report of the State Librarian Patterson
10:30 Break
10:40 Renovations update Agata
10:50 Division reports
- Talking Book and Braille Library
- Government Information and Library Services
- Library Support and Development
- Operations
11:50 Open forum**
12:20 Working lunch
12:45 Legislation updates Westin
1:00 Budget update Range
1:15 Recommendations of the Talking Book and Braille Advisory Committee Westin
1:30 Elections for Chair and Vice-Chair
1:45 Retreat planning
3:00 Adjournment
** Any person may address the State Library Board at this meeting on any topic.
NOTE: The times of all agenda items are approximate and subject to change.