OKLAHOMA LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

The primary mission of the OLBPH is to provide uniquely adapted and proprietary digital talking book players (DTB’s) and book cartridges to Oklahomans who are visually and/or physically unable to read standard printed materials. The OLBPH is a regional library within the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) network, an extension of the Library of Congress.

FREE LIBRARY SERVICES

Cartridges in the OLBPH collection are mailed to and from patrons as free matter and there is free downloading of reading materials available from the national collection. Being as the DTB’s are also loaned for free, this is a totally free service available through a simple application process.

Recently Apple released an App that emulates the DTB and plays downloaded reading materials from BARD (Braille and Audio Reader Downloading), the NLS downloading site

AND MORE…FREE…

Other free OLBPH services available to library patrons are the National Federation for the Blind’s Newsline and the Oklahoma Telephone Reader (OTR). Both are reader services available from a touch tone phone. Newsline offers a wide variety of national newspapers and magazines while OTR features local newspapers across Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s Talking Information Service (OTIS) is an internet radio station available on the OLBPH website www.library.state.ok.us click on “listen to otis” tab at bottom of opening page

OTIS programming is also accessible through both telephone reader services.

DISPELLING MYTHS

The OLBPH is not just for people who are elderly and blind as the stereotype has presided.

The OLBPH is a “cradle to grave” service that can start at birth with a child needing developmental tools available from the Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Center to when a relative returns a cassette and/or a digital talking book player after it has provided for years/decades of enjoyment for a patron who has passed.

DISPELLING MORE MYTHS

A person does not have to be legally blind to receive library services. Simply having trouble reading standard printed materials as found in books, newspapers and magazines qualifies. Also as the name OLBPH implies a person with a physical disability that makes it difficult to handle printed materials may also qualify. Finally a person with a mental disability regarding difficulty with reading can qualify.

Certifying authorities listed on application.

ACCESSIBLE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AIM CENTER

The OLBPH AIM Center’s primary mission is to work with the special education visual impairments (VI) teachers in public and private schools and in home school settings across Oklahoma and provide the needed accessible materials to students K-12 who are unable to access standard printed matter.

The AIM Center also has developmental materials for children birth to kindergarten.

WHAT TYPES OF MATERIALS DO WE PROVIDE?

We provide large print and braille materials, such as text books and literature, and assistive technology devices that students need to excel in their academic endeavors alongside their peers.

Some of the assistive technology devices that we provide include:• Talking Calculators• Electronic Magnifiers • Refreshable Braille Display Devices• iPads (developing trend/technology)

Studio Productions

One more really cool function that the OLBPH is very proud of is our digital audio recording studio with productions accepted in the national (NLS) collection including the popular bimonthly magazine “Cowboys and Indians.”

We are also able to assemble a collection of magazines on digital cartridges for duplication and distribution to our patrons.

The OLBPH internet radio station OTIS also has studio recording sessions for portions of the programming.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

If you think what we do at the OLBPH is cool, we do offer volunteer opportunities with our Oklahoma Telephone Reader, which can be done from home, OTIS internet radio station and our digital audio studio productions. These opportunities do require a lasting commitment. If you have questions about our volunteer program or for any other library inquires you can:

Visit our website www.library.state.ok.us

Send email to olbph@okdrs.gov

Call reception at (405) 521-3514