Head of Reader Services New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center
A common misunderstanding about the print disabled community is that it’s “only” people who are blind, and having audiobooks is sufficient to provide services to this sometimes overlooked community. Because of these misconceptions, outreach to the print disabled community is a vital part of library work. Multiple outreach events by the New Jersey State Library Talking Book & Braille Center (TBBC) will be highlighted, from computer classes to providing accessible reading materials to summer camps to all-day festivals. Outreach not only provides vital services, it also informs people what a print disability is (people of all ages who cannot read a traditional print book because of blindness, low vision, physical limitations or a perceptual or reading disability) and that there are no-cost resources available from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Included in the poster session will be: definitions and examples of what “print disability” is; how to qualify for library services from NLS and its network libraries, such as TBBC; finding your local NLS library; the materials provided by NLS (audiobooks, braille, machines to listen to audiobooks, machines to read electronic braille, as well as an app) and various outreach events that TBBC has done, either by itself or with community groups and partners.