Libraries for the Blind and Print Disabled

NLS Staff Present:

Karen Keninger, Director
Isabella Marques de Castilla, Deputy Director
Michael Martys, Automation Officer
Steve Prine, Acting Chief/Assistant Cheif, Network Division
John Bryant, Head, Production Control Division
Michael Katzmann, Chief, Materials Development Division
Vickie Collins, Network Consultant
Pamela Davenport, Network Consultant

Network Chairs:

Debbi MacLeod, Western Conference
Craig Howard, Southern Conference
Sharon Ruda, Midlands Conference
Adam Szczepaniak, Northern Conference

Housekeeping Items:

• Conference Chair call is held the week before the NLS call with all the Network Librarians.
• Reminder to send resolutions from the conference to NLS consultant as soon as possible.

NLS Updates:
John Bryant: There was an issue with the current MOC system that needed discussion. NLS and the network libraries get a copy of USPS MOC mail card returns to producer; it is now scanned and sent to libraries. Bryant has 800 in his email so knows the libraries are in the same position. He suggests a change in procedure so that people aren’t put into pre-suspend but suspended immediately. The library would then handle the problem ASAP.

Debbi: They get undeliverable back all the time. Most of the time it is correct (deceased, UTF) but there are occasions when it isn’t (for example the cases of the postman noting patron is deceased or no such address and person has lived there 20 years).

Adam, Craig, Debbi, and Sharon: agreed that a single returned mailing card is sufficient to suspend a patron from magazines.

Michael Martys: said that many libraries have asked for a button in the MOC system that indicates they have dealt with a return card image. They could also add another button to deal with the reinstatement.

The question arose as to how libraries would reinstate the patron. Three scenarios were given:

1. If the address changes in the system then reinstatement would automatically occur.
2. When turn off, systems remember address and automatically turns back on.
3. Instant: within MOC system, screen allows delivery suspended to be checked, would be able to say turn it back on. It would be an additional button that says re-initiate the delivery or take NO action on image. A check box would reinstate. Chairs thought this was the best option.
   

Collection Development Group meeting is going on now.

Update on NLS phone apps: ready for pre-beta testing on iOS in a few weeks, Android later on.

Learning Ally: Adam asked if anyone had information on Learning Ally. He believes they closed over 8 studio sites, possibly going to text-to-speech format. NLS would like more info on the situation if we hear about it.
The reason for these meetings is communication between NLS and Network Librarians. Predecessors surveyed the conference members ahead of time. More questions and discussion is expected at the next meeting after a break from the information shared at the recent biennial conferences.