Notes and ideas from ABOS conference 2007

ABOS Conference Summary 2007
2006 ABOS website launched
New Logo
Power point lectures on website
10/8-10/11 2008 conference in Columbus Ohio, University Plaza
ABOS is separate from Association of Rural and Small Libraries – ARSL is for libraries servicing a population of 25,000 or less.
John Phillip award goes to Carol Hole. Award based on – leadership role, readily recognized, visible in community, contribution to community, look to them for information, behind the scenes, knowledge, experience, mentor, longevity, technology, publication, passion.

Braille and Talking Book Library presentation by Diana Sussman Brawley
- Starting in 2008 they will pass out new digital players, bypassing cds. They will use a flash drive. They are battery operated. They hope to have them all passed out by 2011.
- Can order materials from the website. They also include playaways.
- How to determine if this program is appropriate for someone – Can they read comfortably? Not just visual impairment, but physical too. Can they lift a LT book? Also for people who have reading disabilities.
- Librarians can sign the application for the Braille and Talking book library except in the case of learning disabilities.
- BTBL has adult and children’s materials available.
- Promoting service as “free” might deter people because people are generally suspicious of anything marked “free.” Better to promote as “no charge.”
Info eyes http://www.infoeyes.org/
OPAL! http://www.opal-online.org/
Read Please http://www.readplease.com/
Boston Braille press http://www.nbp.org/

How We Do It! Models of service – The Tulsa City County LibraryAmy Stephens and Brad Thomas
- 25 locations, Millennium III, Daily delivery service. They have their own collection.
- First Bookmobile in 1930’s, Alma Reid McGlenn
- 1960’s Ms Gerry Herdon shut in service, 11 bookmobiles
- 1970’s Mod mobile, neighborhoods, nursing homes, shut ins, show films, county jail
- 1980’s At risk, housing authority, (BK doesn’t go to schools any more) Tulsa talking book distribution center.
- 1990’s New BK
- 2000 Automated BK homebound books by mail – free matter for the blind, - merchandise return. 2 clerks, 1 manager, 3 full time associates, 1 half time associate (associate is a beginning professional) They have a night shift 4 nights a week from 3-8pm. No weekends. 16 visits/week to low income housing. Weekly rotation.5 item limit, no fines, separate patron type, no money on board, “BK card,” don’t worry about lost items, forgive fines/lenient, look for pattern of damage, when they aren’t allowed to checkout from BK anymore they use giveaways. They have a kid’s only bookmobile bag that says “my bookmobile books.” Teach responsibility. Has a clip to hold card. Comes to about $3 a bag.2 Laptops connected through Ethernet, connect real time to ILS server, sprint sierra 580 eudo card.They have a filing system for all their homebound patrons, keep book lists for them so they know what they like, already read etc. This is good because we keep so much information in our heads, when someone is out sick or whatever the other staff don’t know what to pull.

- Isolation – Get staff out there – education of system, attend all branch meetings, staff from other branches as volunteers. Advocate bookmobile.- Wrap – used real pictures of patrons. Don’t forget about a wrap guarantee if something happens to it, take it back!- Reading Road Show – Children’s librarian day care story time literacy performer

Library services to the aged and housebound by Gayle Rowden, Yarra Plenty Regional Library, Australia.
- Utilize volunteers for homebound deliver service. They have to go through background check. Volunteers liability covered by the library.
- Emphasized partnerships with other organizations, councils, learning providers, agencies. Also BBC + library, and Amazon.com + library.
- They have a grab bar in between each column of bookshelves.
- They do reminisce programs, oral history gatherings, “do you remember when”
- Customer service is very important to them. Libraries are more social work, they try to get out in the community, talk to people, make it personal. They outsource selection and cataloging to make more time for other things.
- They got the city to install “Mobile Library Parking” signs.
- Their motto is to inform, educate, inspire and connect.
- Their plans for the future – loan out laptops, book review program pass around 3 books publish the remarks.

Discussion group session – vehicle maintenance – maintenance schedule checklist – daily, weekly and annually, end of the day problem list plus weather conditions, 2 disposable cameras in case of accidents.

Got the Mobile library occupational health and safety guidelines from Bruce Meyers, Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia

Ideas:
Bookmobile open house at libraries, popcorn on a Saturday.
Bookmobile stickers like “I visited the bookmobile today!”