The South Carolina State Library’s (SCSL) Talking Book Service (TBS) has been recognized for its Assistive Technology Petting Zoo by ASGCLA - the Association of Specialized Government and Cooperative Library Agencies. The Zoo was developed as a new outreach initiative in 2015 to raise awareness for Assistive Technology and its ability to make public libraries more accessible and inclusive. The Zoo itself is comprised of a variety of assistive technology devices for the blind such as glass magnifiers of various strengths, portable video magnifiers including one with a tablet, text to speech devices, and a portable closed circuit television transported in mobile containers and taken to libraries as well as other events open to the public by TBS librarian.
One of the most significant contributions the Zoo has made has been allowing South Carolina’s public librarians hands on experience with Assistive Technology, creating a desire for the library to offer these tools on a daily basis. As a result, in Federal Fiscal Year 2015, 11 mini-grants for purchasing assistive technology for their own use were awarded to public libraries across the state with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the South Carolina State Library.
The South Carolina State Library’s Talking Book Service will receive the Award at the ASGCLA Achievement Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 22, 2019 from 8:30-10:00am at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington DC. All conference attendees are invited to attend the event. See additional information and a scheduler for the 2019 ALA Annual Conference, https://2019.alaannual.org/
