Accessible Library Services A Nationwide Network

1
Accessible Library Services A Nationwide
Network

• OLA Super Conference
• February 1, 2007
• Arlene Chan
• Toronto Public Library

2
Overview

• Snapshot of Toronto Public Librarys services
  for people with disabilities
• Opportunities
• Challenges

3
Toronto Public Library

• Largest public library in Canada
• 99 library branches
• Serves 2.6 million Torontonians
• Busiest library in North America
• Circulated 30 million plus
• Collection of 10.5 items

4
Toronto Public LibraryCollections

• 99,500 large print books
• 25,000 talking books
• 42,500 audiobooks on tape
• 16,900 books on CD
• 700 descriptive videos

5
Toronto Public LibraryPrograms Services

• Reference service in person, by telephone, by
  email
• 24/7 access to the catalogue
• Electronic databases
• Telephone renewals
• Dial-a-Story

6
Toronto Public LibraryPrograms Services

• Accessible web site
• Special needs status for fines exemption
• Centre for People with Disabilities
• Adaptive equipment and assistive devices,
  including LP monitors and keyboards, CCTVs

7
Toronto Public LibraryPrograms Services

• 2,000 home library service customers
• 71 deposit collections
• Library service at 4 hospitals
• 32 bookmobile stops

8
Toronto Public LibraryComing Soon

• More ebooks, digital audiobooks and electronic
  databases
• Downloadable music
• Wi Fi wireless access at select library branches

9
Opening the Book ReportOpportunities

• Service libraries as 3rd tier of service
• public library mandate to provide our customers
  with accessible services and collections
• one-stop service regardless of ability

10
Opening the Book ReportOpportunities

• Impact of aging population
• more savvy baby boomers with higher expectations
  for service
• Federation of Public Libraries 2006 report
• 55 are largest group of library users in
  Ontario however, their frequency of use is
  declining

11
Opening the Book ReportChallenges

• Dependent on appropriate funding, staffing,
  training, equipment and space
• Scenario of not-too-distant future
• Library customer who is blind asks for book in
  audioformat
• Library staff downloads ecopy to a CD or flash
  card to create book on demand

12
Opening the Book ReportChallenges

• Internet Archive Bookmobile
• Can access, download and print from the public
  domain of over 20,000 on-line titles
• Buck a book
• Cheaper to give copy for free than to print,
  process, catalogue, circulate and store

13
Opening the Book ReportChallenges

• Audiobooks on demand
• Need ability to download to CD or flash card
• Technical and security issues
• Need sufficient bandwidth

14
Opening the Book ReportChallenges

• Technology rapidly changing
• Ongoing training and support for staff and for
  customers
• Transitioning to Daisy format

15
Opening the Book ReportChallenges

• Diverse population
• Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities
  in the world
• Over 140 languages and dialects
• Over 1/3 of Torontonians speak a language other
  than English at home

16
Opening the Book ReportChallenges

• Toronto Public Library provides
• Telephone interpretation service in over 100
  languages
• Can search web and type email in Arabic, Bengali,
  Chinese, Farsi, German and 29 other languages
• French web site

17
Opening the Book ReportChallenges

• Toronto Public Library provides
• Library staff who speak numerous languages
• Over 30 language collections

18
Opening the Book ReportQuestions

• Will we have the appropriate level of technology
  and resources to download or create books on
  demand?
• With the increasing reliance on licensed digital
  resources, will these remain accessible to print
  disabled customers?

19
Opening the Book ReportQuestions

• Will the free postal service for people who are
  blind be expanded to all print disabled
  Canadians?
• Will the charges for interlibrary loans continue
  if we are to rely more on resource sharing as a
  cornerstone of the network?

20
Opening the Book ReportQuestions

• The future role of the CNIB Library as a service
  provider
• The impact of digital formats on home library
  service

21
Conclusion

• Strategies need to be developed and phased in
• Time for change to improve library service for
  print disabled Canadians