The Talking Book Program was established by Congress in 1931 to provide free library services to people with disabilities. Specially mandated Talking Book Libraries operate at state and local levels nationwide in cooperation with the Library of Congress / National Library Service (NLS) to share the costs of the program.
Potential patrons must formally apply for services and must prove that they meet the Talking Book Program's eligibility requirements such as legal blindness, visual impairment, and/or a physical disability or reading disability which significantly impairs their ability to use conventional print materials. Institutions such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals and public libraries which serve people with qualifying disabilities are also eligible to receive this free service.
The network includes the National Library Services, Multi-State Centers, Regional Libraries, Subregional Libraries and Machine Lending Agencies which cooperate to meet the mission of the program. NLS and the Multi-State Centers distribute federally produced Braille and audio materials and playback equipment to the regional and subregional Talking Book Libraries and machine lending agencies. They in turn loan those materials to registered readers in their service jurisdictions.
Although the activities of each Talking Book Library is monitored by its own administrative/funding agency, NLS also regularly reviews each library's compliance with the services guidelines established by ALA's Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA). The cooperating libraries also submit annual, bi-annual, monthly and on-demand reports to NLS for statistical analysis and program review.
What do they do? Talking Book Libraries are the direct service provider for registered Talking Book Program patrons. All Talking Book Libraries maintain collections of NLS alternate format materials for free loan. Many also offer large type, descriptive video, and locally produced Braille and/or audio materials.
Each library encourages readers to place orders for specific titles from announcements or online searches. Most also offer reader advisory services and will select materials automatically, if desired, from the reader's subject preferences or favorite authors. Most also inventory, loan and repair the playback equipment required to read the audio books. Materials are delivered and returned via postage-free mail.
Staff also assist readers with obtaining special-format magazines from alternative-format producers and/or downloadable titles from the NLS website or elsewhere. Many Talking Book Libraries also offer programming for young readers, telephone reference services, book clubs for adult readers and other service enrichment programs.
KLAS for Talking Book Libraries
Over 35 regional and nearly 50 sub-regional member libraries in the Library of Congress / National Library Service (NLS) network use Keystone and KLAS to serve their patrons.
These libraries include those with the highest circulation levels and the most complex regional/sub-regional networks. Our hosting services are used by almost 70 organizations in over 20 states. No other provider of systems for Braille and Talking Book Libraries can match our breadth of experience.
KLAS conforms to NLS program requirements and facilitates the accomplishment of ASCLA standards while:
- Allowing a wide diversity in local management styles, policies and procedures
- Designing operational flexibility and Assistive Technology (AT) compatibility into every improvement
- Striving to anticipate our customers' needs
- Incorporating features in a timely manner
- Staying abreast of technology so that our customers can exploit new opportunities
Keystone specifically supports Talking Book and Braille libraries by:
- Managing their patron information, collection inventories, and transaction data to provide effective services
- Providing on-onging technical support to help librarians and their staff maximize their resources and operational capacities
- Developing new features and incorporating new technologies so each library can grow and adapt to new challenges brought by changes in technology, resources, user expectations and service opportunities
Keystone has attended every regional and national NLS conference since 1994. We know from direct experience as well that there are significant variations in local policies, procedures, operations, services and cultures represented among the member libraries.
KLAS has been and will continue to be designed to support this rich diversity while enabling libraries to meet or beat ASCLA standards, keep pace with NLS service changes, fully comply with NLS reporting requirements, and develop new services all their own.
Current KLAS Installations
NLS network libraries use KLAS to provide service in 34 states plus the Virginia Beach area. Of these, 14 libraries are self-hosted and 23 are Keystone-hosted (some states have multiple network libraries). Dark green indicates self-hosted installations, while states in light green are Keystone-hosted.
Modules for Talking Book Libraries
Patron Services / Reader Advisory Module
- The Patron Services module enables you to manage all your patron information, from current mailing address to qualifying disability, in one place.
- The Patron Master screen displays registration-related data while the Patron Profile screen displays service-related data.
- When a new patron is added to the system, everyone in the library has access to that patron instantaneously.
- And, with the proper system authorization, staff can update a patron record from any physical location in your network.
- We provide an online "notes" feature that allows your staff to place remarks directly in the patron record.
- CMLS reporting functions include an editable transaction file and electronic transmittal features.
- Maintenance functions include Serials Subscriptions and Requests and Reserves management features.
- The Patron Profile also allows you to specify the patron's favorite authors and series.
- KLAS makes it easy for Reader Advisors to provide patrons with efficient, yet individualized, services.
- KLAS helps RAs manage their workflow, gives them access to a wide range of service status information about their patrons, and allows them to customize book selection searches and block automatic selections on behalf of demanding patrons.
- Quick data entry of patron requests from Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review helps you manage patrons' orders efficiently.
- KLAS also allows you to establish a wide range of service cycles to meet your patrons' unique requirements.
Circulation Module
- In addition to managing check-in/check-out, reserves, recalls, and renewals, KLAS allows users to customize all policies that govern circulation.
- KLAS allows partial shipments for multi-volume books, prints mailing cards and overdue reminders automatically, and allows users to specify how it should select books in its automatic nightly selection routines.
- Because KLAS supports a wide range of media, it also allows users to establish loan periods and fines for non-NLS materials such as descriptive videos, if desired.
- KLAS gives users the operational flexibility to house all or part of their collections in random shelf order and supports both copy-specific and non-copy specific inventory management methodologies.
Front Desk Module
- The Front Desk Module simplifies and expands walk-in patron services by combining features of the Patron Module and the Circulation Module.
- It gives users easy access to essential service functions while coordinating activities between the patron's needs and the shipping department's requirements.
Catalogue / Holdings Module
- The Catalogue Management module offers comprehensive, advanced, integrated functions, designed to ensure efficient and accurate maintenance of the holdings database.
- All functions are easy to learn and understand. Whenever users modify records, a keying error prompts system safeguards like "review" files or "valid code" displays to protect database integrity.
- Batch Update allows users to make identical modifications to a group of holdings records in one operation by performing a simple query to isolate the records they wish to modify.
- MARC record download features, Series Maintenance features, and authority file features give the cataloguer powerful, professional library database management tools.
- KLAS employs proven software for tracking holdings inventory.
- Holdings records can include user-defined data fields in addition to the standard library fields (title, author, publisher, ISBN number, editions, series name, publication date, subject, grade level, and classification number) and collection management data (circulation status, use statistics, copy records, condition notes).
- Users can easily toggle to a MARC record display.
- KLAS allows users to catalogue materials while they are on order, allowing advance holds and faster turnaround when received.
Branch Module
- The Branch module allows each branch to maintain separate inventory and statistics.
- It also tracks the collection as it shifts between branches and/or the main library.
- Each location can generate their own reports and create and maintain their own patron records.
Equipment Control
- The Equipment Control module for non-book items helps you track inventory by model and serial number, manage repairs, schedule replacements, and recall items on long-term loan.
- The pre-designed monthly NLS Equipment Inventory Reports does the paperwork for you.
- KLAS also includes machine audit reports and sampling methods to help the machine lending agency operations comply with NLS auditing requirements with ease.
Serials Control
- KLAS provides a number of features for managing the library's serials operations including automatic assignment of the "next" issue to subscribers, capacity for assignment of old issues, generating mailing cards, migrating subscribers from one serial to its replacement when NLS changes its offerings, purging issues, and running a number of pre-tested serials reports.
- Because the Serials Control module is integrated with the rest of KLAS, all users including patrons using Web OPAC, can check subscription information easily.
WebOPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)
- KLAS enables patrons, other libraries and the general public to conduct online catalog searches of the library's holdings remotely.
- The online public access catalogue features password-protected patron access and self-service via the internet.
- KLAS has the flexibility for libraries to choose what information is presented, how it appears, and what additional services are available.
- WebOPAC allows registered patrons to automatically submit requests directly from their online searches.
- Tested by adaptive technology users, KLAS WebOPAC has been recognized for its accessibility with commonly used screen readers and screen enlargers.
Electronic Document Delivery (EDocs)
- KLAS Electronic Document Delivery provides the capability for managing electronic materials, allowing for their download directly from the WebOPAC, and tracking the usage of those electronic documents.
- Any sort of electronic file may be managed, and grouped into 'packages' that control the access permissions for the files.
- These access permissions may be set for different types of users, such as patrons, non-patrons, and staff.
- The EDocs module allows KLAS to maintain statistics as materials are downloaded, so they can be used for reporting electronic circulation activity.
Administration
- The user friendly features in the Administration Module give administrators the power to manage their users, system permissions, code files, and control files without programming experience.
- Administrators can monitor database statistics and run system administration reports with ease and confidence. Administrators can also create powerful custom reports using Crystal Reports.