integrating library services with daisy books in public libraries geert ruebens, director

Integrating Library Services with Daisy Books in Public Libraries

Geert Ruebens, directorLUISTERPUNTFlemish Library for Audio and Braille Books (Belgium)

Summary

1. Belgium (Flanders)2. Public libraries in Flanders3. Special libraries for print disabled4. 2008: ‘Luisterpunt’: new special library5. Cooperation with public libraries6. Contact

1. Belgium

o Kingdom: created 1830: constitutiono Political system: parliamentary democracyo European Union: membership o Federal Structure:

• Three Regions (economy, defence, justice)• Three Communities (culture, education, social affairs, health)

− Own Cultural Policy and Minister− Flemish: Luisterpunt; French: ONA, Ligue braille

• 10 Provinces (Flanders 5, Wallonia 5)

o Official languages: 3• Flanders: Dutch• Wallonia: French• Brussels: Dutch + French (+ many other languages)• German Community: German

1. Maps of Belgium

1. Facts about Flanders

o Surface: 13.511 km² (B: 30.513 km²)o Population: 5.940.251 (58%)

(Belgium: 10.239.085)o Age structure :

● Youngsters (0-19 years): 23%● Adults (20-64 years): 60%● Elderly (+65 years): 17%

o Visual impaired: o 2008: 2% = 126.000o In 2015: 160.000

2. Public Libraries in Flanders

o Municipalities: 308 (Belgium: 589)o Membership of a library: 25%o Library law:

• library = obligation (1921, 1978)• Decree Local Cultural Policy (2001)

o Flemish agencies: • Locus: support• Bibnet: support library automation

o Special libraries:• Luisterpunt: for people with print disabilities• Zorgbib: for residents of hospitals, homes for elderly

people and asylum reception centres

2. Library structure

Flemish Government & Agencies

Provinces & Special libraries

Service Points (800)&

Municipalities: libraries (300)

Population / Public

3. Special libraries

3. Special libraries

Situation till 2007:• 2 independent special libraries• Funded by Flemish Government• Since 2005: Daisy books

• Joint on line catalogue:http://daisybraille.bibliotheek.be

3. Special libraries:key figures 2008

o Users:• 4.800 members• = 4% of the target group (126.000)

o Collection:• Braille: 9.000• Daisy: 15.000

o Lending:• Braille: 13.000• Daisy: 180.000

3. Special libraries

o 2008: New library for print disabledo Meaningful name: Luister Punt Bibliotheek

o Increased funding by Flemish Government: 1,5 MEUR/year

o Demand of Government: • more readers: doubling by 2010• more cooperation with public libraries,

homes for the elderly and schools

4. ‘Luisterpunt’

Logo with baseline: Everybody can read

4. ‘Luisterpunt’

www.luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

o Link to on line catalogue with possibility of reservation

o Information: Policy Plan, Promotion Projects, Cooperation Public Libraries, Membership, Collection, …

4. ‘Luisterpunt’

4. ‘Luisterpunt’

4. ‘Luisterpunt’

4. Luisterpunt: objective 1

o Braille on demand:

• Braille collection needs a lot of space and paper

• Near future: developing digital braille books

• Only print on demand

4. Luisterpunt: objective 2

o Dyslectic people• Growing interest for Daisy books

by persons with dyslexia• Increasing awareness in society

for dyslexic persons• Reading and listening at the

same time• Daisy campaign for schools

4. Luisterpunt: objective 3

o Daisy books and Daisy players in public libraries (see 5.)

4. Luisterpunt: objective 4

o Streaming and/or downloading of Daisy books

4. Luisterpunt: objective 5

o Promotion of audio books• Cooperation with commercial

publishers: common interest• Reading promotion:

o 2009 Promotion campaign to elderly:- 2000 Daisy Players for 1000

homes of elderly- Mediacampaign & promotional

materials- Workshops: training professionals- Parcels of 100 Daisy books

5. Cooperation Public Libraries

o On line catalogue of Daisy and braille books is part of Flemish union catalogue

• www.zoeken.bibliotheek.be• On line reservation

o Daisy books in public libraries

5. Cooperation Public Libraries

o Parcels of 100 Daisy books (also children books)

o Loan directly to readers and available in the homes for elderly

o Only for targetgroup: declaration of honour

o Needs promotion with local organisations

5. Cooperation Public Libraries

o Every library gets 1 or 2 Daisy players for free (Province)

o Autumn 2009: 75 – 80 % of the public libraries join the project

o For results: see presentation of Mr. Kris De Winter (Province of Antwerp)

5. Cooperation Public Libraries

o Agreement between 3 partners:• Special library (for free):

o Loan of Daisy bookso Distribution of promotional materialso Training in use of Daisy book and player

• Public library:o Commitment for local promotion

• Provincial government:o Support in promotiono 1 or 2 Daisy players in each library for

free

5. Cooperation Public Libraries

o Result: win-win situation:

• People with reading problems: no treshold, continuation of library use, principle of inclusion

• Public libraries: continuation of service to same customers

• Special libraries: broaden of the targetgroup to middle aged and elderly people

6. Contact

o Web: www.luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

o Phone: +32 70 24 60 70

o E-mail: info@luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

o Geert Ruebens, directorgeert.ruebens@luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

o Ann Voet, librarianann.voet@luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

o Saskia Boets, communication and promotionsaskia.boets@luisterpuntbibliotheek.be