| Alabama Regional
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (BPH)
BPH is a focal
point in Alabama for library services to blind,
visually impaired, and physically handicapped
citizens. This specialized area of library services
uses custom-designed facilities, trained staff and
unique equipment to meet their reading needs. This
division through a cooperative network within the
Library of Congress/National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped brings special
format reading materials, playback equipment and
other library resources to qualifying users. Free
mailing privileges are provided by the United States
Post Office. There is no charge for any part of the
service.
Eligibility
Persons unable to
use standard print material due a visual or physical
disability qualify for these unique services.
Whether a temporary or permanent loss, the
disability must impact on a person's ability to see
or use reading material in the traditional sense.
Qualifying physical disabilities include blindness,
low vision, arthritis, paralysis, cerebral palsy,
multiple sclerosis, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Reading disabilities resulting from organic
dysfunction such as dyslexia qualify also.
Applications are
available upon request for persons or institutions
who meet the qualifications as designated by the
National Library Service (NLS). For visual and
physical disabilities, certification can be made by
a medical doctor, a doctor of osteopathy,
ophthalmologist, optometrist, registered nurse,
social worker, caseworker, rehabilitation teacher,
etc. In the case of a reading disability,
certification can only be made by a medical doctor
or a doctor of osteopathy. An institution (i.e.,
nursing home, school, or hospital) can provide these
services to their clients who qualify. In this case,
certification must come from the administrator of
the facility or program.
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Circulation Services
This unique library
serves the recreational and basic informational
needs of patrons in sixty of Alabama's sixty-seven
counties by offering books in cassette and record
formats. Braille titles are available to patrons in
sixty-four of the state's counties. Other users
obtain their materials through one of the five
subregional libraries located in Anniston, Dothan,
Huntsville, Talladega and Tuscaloosa. BPH serves
4,000 Alabamians directly with another 1,300 being
served through the subregional libraries.
The collection
includes over 5,000 books in record format (RDs);
28,500 books in cassette format (RCs) and 9,400
titles in braille format (BRs). In addition, 300
titles related to Alabama or by Alabama authors have
been produced locally in cassette format (RECs) .
The library's total holdings of 256,000 include best
sellers, mysteries, romances, westerns, religious
fiction, non-fiction and much more. In addition,
most popular magazines are available in at least one
of these formats. Books are selected by the patron
or by an assigned reader advisor from various
subject catalogs utilizing each patron's personal
reading profile. Patrons may call the library using
the toll-free number or mail selections to the
library. Cooperative lending with other related
facilities allows for interlibrary loans of recorded
titles not available through the NLS holdings.
In order to use
these special format materials, each patron is
provided a record player and/or a cassette player at
no charge. In order to keep the equipment, a patron
must read at least one book per year per machine. In
addition to this playback equipment, there are also
headphones, pillow phones, extension levers,
amplifiers and remote controls available. Some
restrictions apply as to the use of these items.
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Volunteers
Volunteers make
significant contributions to the areas of
circulation services, machine repair, and
duplication. In circulation, volunteers help with
the shipping and receiving of the record collection,
the inventory of new cassette titles, and mass
mailings. Pioneers from BellSouth and AT&T are
trained to evaluate and repair returned equipment.
Other volunteers work to duplicate magazines on
cassette or book titles.
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Tours
Tours are available
for large and small groups of all ages to visit this
unique facility. We encourage library patrons to
visit us when in Montgomery or pick up materials
from us. Groups that have seen the facility include
public and private school classes, day care
children, college classes, consumer groups, and
public librarians. Call to schedule an appointment
or to order materials for a pickup.
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Subregional Libraries
The subregional
libraries which operate cooperatively with BPH to
meet their patrons needs house much smaller book
collections. Four of the five subregional libraries
are located within public libraries and serve
patrons only from their county. These are located in
Anniston, Dothan, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa. The
fifth subregional library is located in the Resource
Center of the Alabama Institute for the Blind in
Talladega. This library serves patrons in a
tri-county area (Coosa, St. Clair, and Talladega)
and houses a braille collection as well as the
recorded titles. Contact us for more information.
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National Library Service
This branch of the
Library of Congress is responsible for the network
of libraries which today consist of 56 regional
libraries and 86 subregional libraries which serve
eligible citizens of the United States of America.
Through a cooperative effort with the American
Library Association/Association of Specialized and
Cooperative Library Agencies, a set of guidelines
and standards assures consistent service among the
various libraries. It is responsible for the
selection, recording and distribution of the special
format materials, as well as the playback equipment
and accessories needed to enjoy them. For more
information contact them or find their web page at
http://lcweb.loc.gov/nls or
http://www.loc.gov/nls .
For inquiries,
please contact the following persons:
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BPH
Contacts- Circulation Services
Applications / General Information
dpritchard@apls.state.al.us
Patrons
sclements@apls.state.al.us
mcoleman@apls.state.al.us
Machines/Magazines
dpritchard@apls.state.al.us
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