Insight

              The National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped has named the Illinois State
Library Talking Book and Braille Service (TBBS) and
its network of four Talking Book Centers (TBCs) the
2005 Network Library of the Year.
TBBS Director Sharon Ruda accepted the award at
ceremonies at the Library of Congress in Washington,
D.C. on April 4. Also in attendance were Karen
Odean, director, Voices of Vision TBC, Geneva;
Diana Brawley Sussman, director, Southern Illinois
TBC, Carterville; Deborah Taylor, director, Chicago
Public Library TBC; and Lori Bell, former director,
Mid-Illinois TBC, East Peoria.
“To be recognized as the best in the nation is an
incredible honor,” said Secretary of State and State
Librarian Jesse White. “We are immensely proud of
the services our Illinois network of libraries offers to
our visually-impaired patrons.”
More than 27,000 Illinoisans use the wide variety of
materials provided by the network. Individuals may
choose from a collection of more than 400,000 items,
ranging from audio books and braille materials to
descriptive videos and magazines.
This year is the 75th anniversary of the beginning of
free nationwide library service to the visually
impaired. TBBS hosted a reception marking the occa-sion
and similar celebrations are taking place nation-wide
throughout the year.
“For Illinois to be singled out as Network Library of
the Year during this 75th anniversary celebration is
doubly rewarding,” said Secretary White. “I am proud
to congratulate the hard working staffs at these cen-ters
on receiving this well-deserved recognition.”
The award recognizes excellence, innovation and
special achievement by a National Library Service
library in providing services to visually and physically
disabled individuals. Selection was based on three
criteria: 1) mission support, 2) creativity and innova-tion,
and 3) patron satisfaction.
May/June
in
this
issue
TBBS wins
national award
LSTA funding
awarded
Ask?Away Illinois
Emerging Writers
Competition
deadline
Letters About
Literature
winners
announced
Alexander
Hamilton
exhibit
22 libraries
join LLSAPs
2006
TBBS wins Network Library of the Year award
$6.2 million in LSTA funding
awarded to State Library
The federal Institute of Museum and Library
Services has awarded the Illinois State Library
$6.2 million in Library Service and Technology
Act (LSTA) funds to be distributed to libraries and
regional library systems across the state.
Each year the Illinois State Library administers
LSTA funds through a competitive grant program.
Illinois libraries use these grants to enhance their
collections, educate patrons and staff, foster
stronger community relationships, develop digital
imaging projects and implement new library pro-grams
and initiatives. The grants are available to
academic, school, public and special libraries,
and regional library systems, with grants awarded
on a population-based formula. States provide at
least $1 for every $2 of federal support.
Sharon Ruda, director of the Illinois State Library Talking
Book and Braille Service, accepts the National Library
Service’s Network Library of the Year award during cere-monies
at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.