The Indiana State Library Foundation in collaboration with the Indiana State Library’s Talking Book & Braille Library is seeking applicants for a new grant supporting talking book patrons with the purchase of assistive technology devices. The grants will provide monetary reimbursements in amounts ranging from $50 to $1,000 towards the purchase of an assistive technology device of the grant recipient’s choosing. These devices remove many barriers to education and employment for visually impaired individuals and may include: video magnifiers, optical character recognition systems, speech systems, etc.
Indiana State Library Foundation Chairman Robert Barcus stated, “The foundation is pleased to support visually impaired patrons in the purchase of much needed assistive technology devices. These devices not only make it possible for the visually impaired to experience the joy of books, they also provide access to a world of technology that can lead the way to independent living.”
“For years the Talking Books & Braille Library has served visually and physically impaired Hoosiers. The technologies grant program will further the State Library’s mission of serving all Indiana residents, leading and supporting the library community, and preserving Indiana history,” said State Librarian Jacob Speer.
Grant requests may be submitted any time throughout the year. The requests will be reviewed by a committee and awarded on a quarterly basis until the funds allotted for the calendar year are expended. Grants will only be awarded to a particular individual or institution one time every three calendar years.
More information, including application instructions, can be found online at http://www.in.gov/library/5442.htm. Questions may be directed to us by email at tbbl@library.in.gov.
The Indiana State Library Foundation was established in 2011 with a mission to serve citizens of Indiana through the support, enhancement and promotion of activities of the Indiana State Library, their programs and collections and to aid in development of library related programs benefiting libraries throughout the state and the library profession.
To learn more about how you can help the Indiana State Library Foundation support the Talking Books program, contact donations@library.in.gov.
This blog post was written by Margaret Ansty, Talking Book & Braille Library Supervisor & Ryan Brown, Director of Communications Indiana State Library. For more information, contact the Indiana State Library at (317)232-3684 or “Ask-A-Librarian” at http://www.in.gov/library/ask.htm.