CONSUMER ADVOCACY AND ADVISORY
COMMITTEE FOR
THE BLIND
Chairman Tim Jones called the meeting
of the Consumer and Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Blind to order at
Members
Not Present: Linda Lewis, Brian Lewis,
Jim Shuart, Steve Walker, Bill Apple, Ron Eller, and Representative Verla
Insko
Others
Present: Debbie Jackson, Francine Martin,
Tom Winton, Pat Robbins, William Tubilleja, and Carla Parker
Approval of Minutes
Motion was made, seconded, and carried
to approve the minutes of
· All staff had the opportunity
to review and provide input on the 2nd draft of the LBPH 5-year
plan. A draft is attached to this
report. The plan includes consumer
input and recommendations as well as staff and the National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped recommendations.
·
The DCR Budget request included for NCLBPH funding
for a new telephone system, a security system, rent increases to cover the
Braille storage location (annex) and the new LBPH lease agreement for the
current building, and utility increases.
The increases are included in the budget as recently passed by the
General Assembly.
· New carpet has been selected. We are now awaiting word from the landlord on a meeting to discuss the time and logistics for installation.
·
Shaun Mason began work
The
following statistics reflect some key service levels of NCLBPH for State Fiscal
Year 2004/2005, which ended
·
9,996 individuals actively
borrowed books or magazines from NCLBPH
·
239 institutions were served
·
482,813 books & magazines
were loaned to
·
18,681 service related phone
calls were fielded
·
1,158 emails from patrons were
handled
·
2,106 new applications for
service were received
The
Machine Unit staff completed matching our database inventory of machines with
the national machine inventory database called BPHICS (Blind and Physically
Handicapped Inventory Control System). Discrepancies
were corrected. BPHICS staff
were complimentary on the high level of accuracy of the NC database
records.
·
Gary Ray is participating in a Braille Literacy Committee being formed
by DSB. LBPH is a central player in
any effort to improve Braille literacy because we are the largest supplier
of Braille reading material in NC.
·
Braille Coordinator is overseeing
5 students in the NLS transcribing course. This entails grading lessons and answering questions.
·
Braille Coordinator is consulted
by NLS and the NBA (National Braille Association) on a periodic basis because
of the number of years she has been involved in Braille.
Sources:
NLS Consultant Report recommendations 2004 (Based on
ALA/COSLA standards)
2004 NCLBPH Patron Satisfaction Survey (where satisfaction
decreased by more than 2%)
(AI) Appreciative Inquiry Process (LBPH staff recommendations
2003)
(FM) Recommendations by Francine Martin, Regional Librarian
Patron recommendations, CMLS
annual report, other staff recommendations.
Planning
·
Develop a new long-range plan.
When the long-range plan is complete, send a copy to NLS.
Make the long-range plan available to patrons in appropriate formats. (NLS Recommendation)
·
When analysis of the patron
satisfaction survey is complete, send the results to NLS. (NLS Recommendation)
·
Review policies regularly,
especially as changes in operation or service are made. (NLS Recommendation)
Staffing
·
The RL should continue to work
with the administering agency toward adding two librarians and maintaining
proper staff levels. (NLS Recommendation)
·
The RL should continue to work
with the administering agency toward restoring two Reader Advisor positions
to meet staffing standards. (NLS Recommendation)
New Services/Projects
·
Research, purchase, and implement
Digital Recording system meeting NLS specs. (FM)
·
Implementation of digital books
as NLS makes info & products available. (FM)
·
Ensure NC patrons have timely
notification of opportunities to participate in any NLS test projects, etc.
(FM)
·
Monitor KLAS ver 7 developments
and implement when functionality is acceptable. (FM)
·
Evaluate demand for a Descriptive
DVD collection. Plan & implement
when appropriate.
Customer Service
Improvement
·
Contact new patrons within
a shorter time-frame with a follow-up so we encourage them to use service
before they are lost to us. (AI) Find
more ways to reach out to customers. (AI)
·
Improve amounts of books patrons
are receiving (satisfaction decrease in 04 Patron Survey)
·
Improve speed with which books
get to patrons—what steps can/should we take internally? (satisfaction decrease in 04 Patron Survey)--related
to item above & patron Max?
·
Improve book selection—Nightly
TA coding & setup? (satisfaction decrease in 04 Patron Survey)
·
Improve ease of contacting
us—what steps can we take internally? (satisfaction
decrease in 04 Patron Survey)
·
Make every effort to ensure
automated systems purchased by and used by LBPH staff and patrons are accessible
and appropriate.
Facilities
·
Install automatic doors so
visitors in wheelchairs have independent access to building. (Patron demand)
·
Install new carpet (staff &
landlord recommendation)
·
Improve privacy of customer
information at reception desk. (AI)
Collection
·
Improve availability of popular
older titles by increasing in-house production of additional copies of tape
books. (AI)
·
Submit a NCLBPH recorded title
to the Quality Assurance (QA) program at the Multistate Center East (MSCE)
for evaluation. (NLS Recommendation)
·
Continue weeding & shifting
to ensure continued room for growth. (FM)
·
Shelving plan needed to show
where each collection will grow for next 5 years. (FM)
·
Study the demographic/age distribution
of large print users to better define needs (AI)
Cataloging
·
Author authority cleanup in
cataloging records (staff & patron suggestions)
·
Annotation cleanup in cataloging
records (JH)
·
Improve subject coding consistency
throughout catalog records (staff suggestion)
Magazine Services
·
Find way to get more volunteers
to get magazines recorded in a more timely manner.
(AI & NLS Recommendation)
Public Relations
·
Find ways to broaden the customer
base. (AI)
·
Improve newsletter (satisfaction
decrease in 04 Patron Survey)
Machines
·
Perform a
reconciliation between the NCLBPH Machine Lending Agency’s (MLA) machine
files and the national machine inventory database (BPHICS) file. (NLS Recommendation)
·
The MLA should conduct a self-audit.
(NLS Recommendation)
Volunteers
·
Focus on recruiting/training
volunteers. (AI)
(See also magazine and collection recommendations regarding
volunteers.)
Improve branch
interactions/morale (AI)
·
Improve communication between
units (AI)
·
Build sense of community in
LBPH. Work to help everyone see relationships
between units & what each unit does. Build willingness to see others point
of view. (AI)
·
Find ways to promote better
attitudes & help each person feel they are needed & their opinion
counts. (AI) Encourage shared problem
solving. (AI)
North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction—Tom Winton
55th Conference
on Exceptional Children – The 55th Conference on Exceptional Children is scheduled
for November 7-9 at the
Summer Institutes – The Exceptional Children
Division held 25 separate summer institutes during June, July and August. Many were held during the week of July 25-29
at the
Federal Quota Funds – As of
NCCU-VITP Advisory Board – The Consultant for Visually
Impaired continues to serve as co-chair with Dr. Deborah Hatton on the NCCU-VITP
Advisory Board. The Board meets bi-monthly
and is representative of stakeholder schools, agencies, committees, and consumer
groups. The Board was disappointed
to learn of the resignation of the program’s director, Dr. Alana Zambone. The Board
recognizes the historical inability of the university to keep a fully staffed
program in place and is expressing its concerns to the appropriate university
administration officials.
Registration of Legally Blind – The Annual Registration of Legally Blind students will begin in early January.
The Consultant for Visually Impaired administers this annual registration.
An official count of the registered students with legal blindness will
be available at the next C&A Advisory Committee
meeting in March 2005.
APH Educational Products Advisory
Committee – The Consultant for Visually Impaired has been serving as a member of
the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Educational Products Advisory
Committee. This Committee assists APH
in continuous improvement to ensure that the educational products APH develops
are of high quality and relevance to the needs of students with visual impairments
and blindness. It will give an official
report to all the Ex Officio Trustees of APH at the Annual Meeting in
New Director at GMS – The Exceptional Children
Division recognizes and welcomes Dennis Thurman as the new Director of the
NC Division
of Services for the Blind—Debbie Jackson
Federal Level—The plan is
still underway to close the RSA Regional Offices as of
State Level— Fortunately, DSB did not suffer any major cuts. NewsLine and Radio Reading was funded for another year. Senate Bill 1058 which offers greater protection for service animals and owners and stiffer penalties to those who violate this law did pass.
Renovations
of Dorms on GMS Campus—Two dorms, Cox and Milsap, will be renovated.
The major renovations will begin on Cox dorm in October or November
2005. It is anticipated it will take
approximately 9 months to complete the major renovations on Cox then work
will begin on Milsap.
Students will be moved out of dorms and into a smaller space on campus,
Cathey Cottage. In
some situations, students may be housed off-campus. Fewer students will be able to be served at
the
Needs
Assessment—Approximately every 5 years, DSB’s Rehabilitation
Program participates in a Statewide Needs Assessment
which focuses on the Rehabilitation Program.
The
agreement between DSB and Durham County School System is finally signed. The Counselor position will be posted and final
arrangements regarding office location is being worked out.
Labels
for Literacy Project—This is a project designed to
help the visually impaired and blind identify canned goods. The labels are in large print and Grade 1 Braille.
We are compiling a mailing list and waiting to receive our first set
of labels from the Company.
The
planning for the 4th Annual North Carolina Conference on Visual
Impairment and Blindness is currently underway.
It is being planned for
Prevent Blindness of
All programs with Prevent Blindness are doing very well. A large appropriation, $225,000, was received to be used for preschool screening. Due to the recent hurricane, vouchers for glasses and appointments which are normally for children will now also be provided to adults in case there are any evacuees needing glasses or treatment.
One major concern of Prevent Blindness of NC is a bill that passed in the House which mandates all children receive an eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist before entering preschool. Two million dollars was appropriated but Prevent Blindness estimates the cost will be much greater. In the past, pediatricians have performed any screening or exams a child may need. This bill cuts out the pediatrician and makes exams mandatory before entering school. Chairman Tim Jones asked Jennifer Talbot to send a fact sheet or other information to Carla Parker so she may send to the committee.
NC
Association for Rehabilitation and Education of the Blind and Visually
Impaired (AER)—William Tubilleja
In Bill Apple’s absence, Mr. William Tubilleja reported on AER.
·
The next meeting of the NCAER Board is at
· William Tubilleja is a recently appointed Board Member. Other current Board members include: Gary Ray, Mary Flanagan, Susan Purdy, Tom Winton, Nancy Massengill, Jim Baker, Joy Fleming, and Bill Apple.
· NCAER is exploring how NC might assist blind and visually impaired victims of Hurricane Katrina.
· NCAER continues to develop its website at http://www.ncaer.net/
·
NCAER is participating in the planning for the upcoming
NC Conference on Visual Impairment and Blindness to be held
National
Federation of the Blind—Hazel Staley
In May, 13 NFB members participated
in the demonstration in
On August 28, a reader of the Charlotter Observer sent a question to Diane Whitacre, who authors a column called Dr. Traffic, regarding left turn on red. The reader said he had noticed motorists every afternoon making a left turn from college onto 12 street and asked if this was legal. Ms. Whitacre responded: “It is illegal to turn left on red in NC, one of only 7 states where that very logical move is prohibited. The legislature rejected a left on red bill this year, the fifth time in recent memory. Visually impaired pedestrians fight the idea.” Ms. Staley left a message on her voice mail explaining why we oppose this idea and left a phone number to be reached but no phone call was returned.
The Federation has joined the Lions International in a project to reach more blind people in the community for rehabilitation purposes. As this project develops, plans will filter down to local clubs. A particular interest of this coalition is Braille Literacy.
NFB’s State
Convention is being held this weekend in
The Legislature voted to fund Newsline for another year.
This Spring,
Tim Jones will be trained using the The Kurweil
Federation Reading Machine in
NC
Council of the Blind—Les Seitz
In Ron Eller’s absence, Les Seitz attended the meeting. Les Seitz is the President of Raleigh-Wake Council of the Blind which is the local affiliate of the NC Council of the Blind.
The National Convention was held
in
The State Office for the NC Council
of the Blind has moved from
State Convention will be held September
23-25 at the LaQuinta in
Last year, different advocacy groups
met to foster goodwill. Again this year, the groups will be having a
picnic at
Elected
Committee of Vendors—Tim Jones
The Business Enterprises Program is doing very well. The average operator income and sales are increasing.
Old
Business
None
New
Business
None
Adjournment
of Meeting
With no further business, a motion
was made, seconded, and carried that the meeting adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at