June 7, 2004 - At a black-tie dinner in Washington, D.C., Perkins School for the Blind received recognition as a finalist in the 2004 Computerworld Honors Collection. Finalists were selected by a panel of distinguished judges based on benefit to society, importance of IT, originality, success and difficulty. Kim Charlson, Director of Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library, accepted the award.
Perkins was nominated in the category of Education and Academia. Through their use of the Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS®) developed by Keystone Systems, Inc., Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library manages a vast collection of Braille and unabridged recorded books and magazines, together with large-print versions and described videos. The library provides 18,000 children, adults and elders, who are unable to read print because of a disability, access to reading materials. David Holloman, President of Keystone, and Mitake Holloman Burts, KLAS Product Manager, attended the event supporting Charlson and Perkins School.
"While the concept of a library automation system isn't new, the design concept of Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS) is fundamental to its uniqueness in the Library field-that is the commitment to universal design and accessibility," said Charlson. "Keystone Systems uses Progress® application development with a relational database management system in its development of KLAS. Progress provides the development and end-user tools that Keystone Systems needs to produce the next generation of complex library and database applications. The combination of Keystone's experienced programmers and Progress makes KLAS an easy-to-use, flexible, reliable library automation system for both our patrons and staff."
"Perkins School for the Blind is using information technology to make great strides toward remarkable social achievement in Education & Academia," said Daniel Morrow, Executive Director, Computerworld Honors Program.
"The Computerworld Honors awards are presented annually to men and women around the world who have made outstanding progress for society through the visionary use of information technology," said Patrick J. McGovern, Chairman of the Computerworld Honors Chairmen's Committee and founder of International Data Group. Joseph W. Alsop, President of Progress Software Corporation and member of The Chairmen's Committee, nominated Perkins for inclusion in the 2004 Education and Academia category.
A case study on Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library, where "Reading is for Everyone," became part of the Computerworld Honors Collection when the 2004 Collection was formally presented to the Global Archives on April 4. The 2004 Collection will be archived in libraries, museums, academic and research institutions around the world, and serve as primary source material for scholars and a resource for individuals who hope to use information technology to create solutions to address their own challenges.
Click here for the official site of the Computerworld Honors Foundation.
