Library service to the blind and physically disabled has a long history in the United States and Ohio. Enacted by Congress in 1931, the Library of Congress established the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) to administer the program. Today, this program continues to provide recorded and Braille books and magazines, music scores in Braille and large print, and specially designed playback equipment at no cost to residents of the United States who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or physical impairment.

 

Both the Cincinnati Public Library (now the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County) and the Cleveland Public Library were among the first eighteen distributing libraries in the country. In 1931, Cincinnati served Kentucky, Tennessee and southern Ohio, while Cleveland served northern and central Ohio. In 1971, Kentucky and Tennessee created their own distributing libraries and service in Ohio was split between Cleveland and Cincinnati.

 

When first initiated, the program offered only Braille books and flexible-disc recordings, the latter of which could be produced quickly in large quantities at a relatively low cost. The American Federation for the Blind (AFB) played a crucial role at the time in the development of talking book machines and in the production of flexible-disc recordings.

 

Although NLS provided recordings, books and other supplies to the distributing libraries, these libraries were responsible for their own local operating costs. In 1960, the State Library of Ohio began using money from its budget to partially fund the libraries in Cincinnati and Cleveland.  But it wasn’t until 1990 that full funding for distributing libraries, now known as Regional Libraries, was included by the state legislature as line items in the State Library’s budget. 

 

Originally, the talking book machines were distributed nationally. The Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission served as Ohio’s Machine Lending Agency (MLA) for many years. In 1981, the Office of Budget and Management assigned machine lending functions to the State Library, which continues today. 

 

Much has changed over the years, but the basic distribution model has remained the same. Congress expanded the program in 1952 to include children, in 1962 to provide music materials, and again in 1966 to include individuals with other physical impairments that prevent the reading of standard print. Flexible-disc recordings were replaced by cassette tapes in 1969, which continues today. 

 

Fast forward to 2009… After many years of development, the transition from cassette tapes and players to digital talking book machines and audio recordings will begin in August/September. The new players are lightweight, but durable, and contain no moving parts. Audio recordings utilize the latest digital technology available. Audio books will be contained on a flash memory cartridge, which is about the size of a credit card. The State Library estimates it will be 20 months before all of Ohio’s current 15,000 users have a new player and probably three years plus before cassette players and tapes are phased out entirely. Detailed information and pictures of the new players and cartridges can be found on the NLS website: http://www.loc.gov/nls/businessplan/playerdescription.html

 

In July 2009, Regional Library service in the southern part of the state was merged with the Cleveland Regional Library. To reflect its expanded role, the Cleveland Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped changed its name to the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled. Users will not experience a change or degradation in service, since books and other materials are sent to and returned via mail.

 

For more information about Ohio’s Talking Book Program, contact Jim Buchman, Head of Patron & Catalog services. E-mail: jbuchman@sloma.state.oh.us; Phone: 614-644-6954.

 

Sources:

Ohio’s Talking Book Program: A Study for the State Library of Ohio, by Rhea Joyce Rubin, April 1990