THE ON-DEMAND LENDING OF AUDIO BOOKS – RECENT INNOVATION AT THE ESTONIAN LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND MARJA KIVIHALL Twin Cities Conference May 13-16, 2009, Helsinki and Turku

Historical background 1947 – establishment of the Estonian Library for the Blind in Tallinn; 1947-2003 – functioning as part of the blind people’s enterprise and as a foundation ; 2004 – becoming the branch of the Repository Library of Estonia .

1947 – establishment of the Estonian Library for the Blind in Tallinn;

1947-2003 – functioning as part of the blind people’s enterprise and as a foundation ;

2004 – becoming the branch of the Repository Library of Estonia .

H oldings Audio books (2 5 00 titles) Braille books (650 titles) Tactile books (60 titles)

Audio books

(2 5 00 titles)

Braille books

(650 titles)

Tactile books

(60 titles)

S ources of increasing library holdings Library production (about 100 audio book and 70 braille book title s in a year) P urchases (230 titles in 2008) D onations (215 titles in 2008) B ook exchange (receiving 26 audio books in 2008)

Library production

(about 100 audio book and 70 braille book title s in a year)

P urchases

(230 titles in 2008)

D onations

(215 titles in 2008)

B ook exchange

(receiving 26 audio books in 2008)

Patrons Over 400 patrons in Estonia and Canada ; Library users range from schoolchildren to retired people; Patrons are mainly visually impaired people; O ther impairments (e.g. dyslexia, intellectual disability) are also represented.

Over 400 patrons in Estonia and Canada ;

Library users range from schoolchildren to retired people;

Patrons are mainly visually impaired people;

O ther impairments (e.g. dyslexia, intellectual disability) are also represented.

Library services L ending literature at the library ; L ending books, newspapers and magazines by mail ; S ending electronic newspapers by e-mail ; I nterlibrary lending ; Providing a ccess to the system for reading electronic texts .

L ending literature at the library ;

L ending books, newspapers and magazines by mail ;

S ending electronic newspapers by e-mail ;

I nterlibrary lending ;

Providing a ccess to the system for reading electronic texts .

Innovations since 2006 P roduction of audio books on CDs in mp3 format instead of cassettes ; M aking tactile maps and pictures for the braille textbooks ; D igiti z ation and restoration of old audio books ; L ending literature using the Internet based electronic catalogue URRAM instead of K irjasto 3000 programme ; I mplementing the on-demand lending system ; P roviding access to the system for reading electronic texts .

P roduction of audio books on CDs in mp3 format instead of cassettes ;

M aking tactile maps and pictures for the braille textbooks ;

D igiti z ation and restoration of old audio books ;

L ending literature using the Internet based electronic catalogue URRAM instead of K irjasto 3000 programme ;

I mplementing the on-demand lending system ;

P roviding access to the system for reading electronic texts .

Reasons for implementing the on-demand lending E xample of the effective library service in Finland ; H igh expenses of postal services for the blind in Estonia .

E xample of the effective library service in Finland ;

H igh expenses of postal services for the blind in Estonia .

P reconditions for implementing the on-demand lending P roduction of digital talking books on CDs ; S uppl ying the tool for burning and duplicating CDs .

P roduction of digital talking books on CDs ;

S uppl ying the tool for burning and duplicating CDs .

Some photos Duplicator

Duplicator

Number of the on-demand book loans September 2008 - April 2009

Number of the on-demand book title s September 2008 - 300 May 2009 - 8 26 ( including 702 Estonian-language and 1 24 Russian-language talking books )

September 2008 - 300

May 2009 - 8 26

( including 702 Estonian-language and 1 24 Russian-language talking books )

Advantages of the on-demand lending User-friendliness - talking books are sent directly to patrons’ homes ; Saving money - sending literature on CDs helps to reduce postal expenses .

User-friendliness - talking books are sent directly to patrons’ homes ;

Saving money - sending literature on CDs helps to reduce postal expenses .

Disadvantages of the on-demand lending Limited selection of literature – on-demand talking books form only one third of the whole audio book collection ; Frequency of sending books to patrons – literature lending is too rare for the patrons with high needs for reading; Re cording of loans – loans are inserted manually into the electronic catalogue instead of automatic al recording.

Limited selection of literature – on-demand talking books form only one third of the whole audio book collection ;

Frequency of sending books to patrons – literature lending is too rare for the patrons with high needs for reading;

Re cording of loans – loans are inserted manually into the electronic catalogue instead of automatic al recording.

Good news! In October 2008, the Estonian Librarians Association’s award “Deed of the year 2008” , was given to the Estonian Library for the Blind for the effective and remarkable action in the category of special libraries.

In October 2008, the Estonian Librarians Association’s award “Deed of the year 2008” , was given to the Estonian Library for the Blind for the effective and remarkable action in the category of special libraries.

Thank you for your attention!