Integrating Library Services with Daisy Books in Public Libraries Geert Ruebens, director LUISTERPUNT Flemish Library for Audio and Braille Books (Belgium)

Summary Belgium (Flanders) Public libraries in Flanders Special libraries for print disabled 2008: ‘Luisterpunt’: new special library Cooperation with public libraries Contact

Belgium (Flanders)

Public libraries in Flanders

Special libraries for print disabled

2008: ‘Luisterpunt’: new special library

Cooperation with public libraries

Contact

1. Belgium Kingdom: created 1830: constitution Political system: parliamentary democracy European Union: membership Federal Structure: Three Regions (economy, defence, justice) Three Communities (culture, education, social affairs, health) Own Cultural Policy and Minister Flemish: Luisterpunt; French: ONA, Ligue braille 10 Provinces (Flanders 5, Wallonia 5) Official languages: 3 Flanders: Dutch Wallonia: French Brussels: Dutch + French (+ many other languages) German Community: German

Kingdom: created 1830: constitution

Political system: parliamentary democracy

European Union: membership

Federal Structure:

Three Regions (economy, defence, justice)

Three Communities (culture, education, social affairs, health)

Own Cultural Policy and Minister

Flemish: Luisterpunt; French: ONA, Ligue braille

10 Provinces (Flanders 5, Wallonia 5)

Official languages: 3

Flanders: Dutch

Wallonia: French

Brussels: Dutch + French (+ many other languages)

German Community: German

1. Maps of Belgium

1 . Facts about Flanders Surface: 13.511 km² (B: 30.513 km²) Population: 5.940.251 (58%) (Belgium: 10.239.085) Age structure : Youngsters (0-19 years): 23% Adults (20-64 years): 60% Elderly (+65 years): 17% Visual impaired: 2008: 2% = 126.000 In 2015: 160.000

Surface: 13.511 km² (B: 30.513 km²)

Population: 5.940.251 (58%) (Belgium: 10.239.085)

Age structure :

Youngsters (0-19 years): 23%

Adults (20-64 years): 60%

Elderly (+65 years): 17%

Visual impaired:

2008: 2% = 126.000

In 2015: 160.000

2 . Public Libraries in Flanders Municipalities: 308 (Belgium: 589) Membership of a library: 25% Library law: library = obligation (1921, 1978) Decree Local Cultural Policy (2001) Flemish agencies: Locus: support Bibnet: support library automation Special libraries: Luisterpunt: for people with print disabilities Zorgbib: for residents of hospitals, homes for elderly people and asylum reception centres

Municipalities: 308 (Belgium: 589)

Membership of a library: 25%

Library law:

library = obligation (1921, 1978)

Decree Local Cultural Policy (2001)

Flemish agencies:

Locus: support

Bibnet: support library automation

Special libraries:

Luisterpunt: for people with print disabilities

Zorgbib: for residents of hospitals, homes for elderly people and asylum reception centres

2 . Library structure Flemish Government & Agencies Provinces & Special libraries Service Points (800) & Municipalities: libraries (300) Population / Public

3 . Special libraries

3 . Special libraries Situation till 2007: 2 independent special libraries Funded by Flemish Government Since 2005: Daisy books Joint on line catalogue: http://daisybraille.bibliotheek.be

Situation till 2007:

2 independent special libraries

Funded by Flemish Government

Since 2005: Daisy books

Joint on line catalogue:

http://daisybraille.bibliotheek.be

3. Special libraries:key figures 2008 Users: 4.800 members = 4% of the target group (126.000) Collection: Braille: 9.000 Daisy: 15.000 Lending: Braille: 13.000 Daisy: 180.000

Users:

4.800 members

= 4% of the target group (126.000)

Collection:

Braille: 9.000

Daisy: 15.000

Lending:

Braille: 13.000

Daisy: 180.000

3 . Special libraries

2008: New library for print disabled Meaningful name: Luister Punt Bibliotheek Increased funding by Flemish Government: 1,5 MEUR/year Demand of Government: more readers: doubling by 2010 more cooperation with public libraries, homes for the elderly and schools 4. ‘Luisterpunt’

2008: New library for print disabled

Meaningful name: Luister Punt Bibliotheek

Increased funding by Flemish Government: 1,5 MEUR/year

Demand of Government:

more readers: doubling by 2010

more cooperation with public libraries, homes for the elderly and schools

Logo with baseline: Everybody can read 4. ‘Luisterpunt’

Logo with baseline: Everybody can read

www.luisterpuntbibliotheek.be Link to on line catalogue with possibility of reservation Information: Policy Plan, Promotion Projects, Cooperation Public Libraries, Membership, Collection, … 4. ‘Luisterpunt’

www.luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

Link to on line catalogue with possibility of reservation

Information: Policy Plan, Promotion Projects, Cooperation Public Libraries, Membership, Collection, …

4. ‘Luisterpunt’

4. ‘Luisterpunt’

4 . Luisterpunt: objective 1 Braille on demand: Braille collection needs a lot of space and paper Near future: developing digital braille books Only print on demand

Braille on demand:

Braille collection needs a lot of space and paper

Near future: developing digital braille books

Only print on demand

4 . Luisterpunt: objective 2 Dyslectic people Growing interest for Daisy books by persons with dyslexia Increasing awareness in society for dyslexic persons Reading and listening at the same time Daisy campaign for schools

Dyslectic people

Growing interest for Daisy books by persons with dyslexia

Increasing awareness in society for dyslexic persons

Reading and listening at the same time

Daisy campaign for schools

4 . Luisterpunt: objective 3 Daisy books and Daisy players in public libraries (see 5.)

Daisy books and Daisy players in public libraries (see 5.)

4 . Luisterpunt: objective 4 Streaming and/or downloading of Daisy books

Streaming and/or downloading of Daisy books

4 . Luisterpunt: objective 5 Promotion of audio books Cooperation with commercial publishers: common interest Reading promotion: 2009 Promotion campaign to elderly: 2000 Daisy Players for 1000 homes of elderly Mediacampaign & promotional materials Workshops: training professionals Parcels of 100 Daisy books

Promotion of audio books

Cooperation with commercial publishers: common interest

Reading promotion:

2009 Promotion campaign to elderly:

2000 Daisy Players for 1000 homes of elderly

Mediacampaign & promotional materials

Workshops: training professionals

Parcels of 100 Daisy books

5. Cooperation Public Libraries On line catalogue of Daisy and braille books is part of Flemish union catalogue www.zoeken.bibliotheek.be On line reservation Daisy books in public libraries

On line catalogue of Daisy and braille books is part of Flemish union catalogue

www.zoeken.bibliotheek.be

On line reservation

Daisy books in public libraries

5. Cooperation Public Libraries Parcels of 100 Daisy books (also children books) Loan directly to readers and available in the homes for elderly Only for targetgroup: declaration of honour Needs promotion with local organisations

Parcels of 100 Daisy books (also children books)

Loan directly to readers and available in the homes for elderly

Only for targetgroup: declaration of honour

Needs promotion with local organisations

5. Cooperation Public Libraries Every library gets 1 or 2 Daisy players for free (Province) Autumn 2009: 75 – 80 % of the public libraries join the project For results: see presentation of Mr. Kris De Winter (Province of Antwerp)

Every library gets 1 or 2 Daisy players for free (Province)

Autumn 2009: 75 – 80 % of the public libraries join the project

For results: see presentation of Mr. Kris De Winter (Province of Antwerp)

5. Cooperation Public Libraries Agreement between 3 partners: Special library (for free): Loan of Daisy books Distribution of promotional materials Training in use of Daisy book and player Public library: Commitment for local promotion Provincial government: Support in promotion 1 or 2 Daisy players in each library for free

Agreement between 3 partners:

Special library (for free):

Loan of Daisy books

Distribution of promotional materials

Training in use of Daisy book and player

Public library:

Commitment for local promotion

Provincial government:

Support in promotion

1 or 2 Daisy players in each library for free

5. Cooperation Public Libraries Result: win-win situation: People with reading problems: no treshold, continuation of library use, principle of inclusion Public libraries: continuation of service to same customers Special libraries: broaden of the targetgroup to middle aged and elderly people

Result: win-win situation:

People with reading problems: no treshold, continuation of library use, principle of inclusion

Public libraries: continuation of service to same customers

Special libraries: broaden of the targetgroup to middle aged and elderly people

6. Contact Web: www.luisterpuntbibliotheek.be Phone: +32 70 24 60 70 E-mail: info@luisterpuntbibliotheek.be Geert Ruebens, director [email_address] Ann Voet, librarian [email_address] Saskia Boets, communication and promotion [email_address]

Web: www.luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

Phone: +32 70 24 60 70

E-mail: info@luisterpuntbibliotheek.be

Geert Ruebens, director [email_address]

Ann Voet, librarian [email_address]

Saskia Boets, communication and promotion [email_address]