Key Notes Blog

Bringing you weekly posts on conference planning, happenings at Keystone, or how better to put KLAS to work for you!

COVID-19 and the Arizona Talking Book Library & Instructional Resource Center

Details: Category: Key Notes; Last Updated: Thursday, 21 May 2020 14:45; Published: Thursday, 21 May 2020 14:41; Written by Erin Pawlus

Our KLAS Users' Group officers contacted some KLAS users to ask them to share how their library / organization is faring and what policy, service, or other changes they may have enacted in response to library closure or limited staffing related to Covid19. We welcome submissions from any KLAS user who wants to share their experience during this time. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you're interested in contributing a post.

Our next guest post in this series is a collaborative one from Erin Pawlus, Assistant Administrator, Arizona Talking Book Library, and Jared Leslie, Director of Media Services, Foundation for Blind Children.

Our teleworking adventures at the Arizona Talking Book library began on March 23, 2020. At that time, we had about half our staff working on site on an alternating schedule, with the rest working from home. Since then, we have managed to pare it down to about 5 people in the building at a time. Other than the regular trill of phone calls, it has been remarkably quiet. At the time of this writing, we are closed to the public through May 15, 2020, so we encourage our readers to contact us by phone or e-mail.

COVID-19 and TN RCVI

Details: Category: Key Notes; Last Updated: Thursday, 21 May 2020 14:41; Published: Tuesday, 19 May 2020 14:54; Written by Kathy Segers

Our next guest blog post in response to this request is from Kathy Segers, Director of Accessible Instructional Materials and Outreach Services, Tennessee Resource Center for the Visually Impaired.

TN RCVI COVID-19 Plan Implementation

As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Tennessee RCVI and Outreach Services, has developed a detailed action plan to support local school districts to be able to continue to serve students with visual impairments, by providing accessible instructional materials and devices to the district and or the parents. The following is an outline of the activities that have been put in place.

COVID-19 and the California Department of Education Press

Details: Category: Key Notes; Last Updated: Tuesday, 12 May 2020 19:23; Published: Tuesday, 12 May 2020 19:23; Written by Katy Patrick

Our next guest blog post in response to this request is from Jesse Medina, Manager of the California Department of Education Press.

CDE Press has been the publishing unit of the California Department of Education (CDE) for over 50 years. Until last year, CDE Press operated completely out of headquarters, located in Sacramento, California. I have been with CDE Press, in various capacities, for almost 14 years. Ever since I started, CDE Press staff could only fulfill orders on computers at work and customers had to call, email, or even fax their orders in. After years of trying to move our sales online, we finally completed the transition in August 2019. CDE Press was finally able to provide 24 hours a day/7 days a week access to our customers all over the world. It ended up being perfect timing for what would happen in 2020.

COVID-19 and the State Library of Kansas, Talking Books Service

Details: Category: Key Notes; Last Updated: Friday, 15 May 2020 15:57; Published: Thursday, 14 May 2020 15:56; Written by Michael Lang

Our next guest blog post in response to this request is from Michael Lang, Director, State Library of Kansas, Talking Books Service.

March 16 – March 20: The Scramble

Kansas Talking Books began quarantining incoming items on Monday, March 16^th. Our initial procedure was to disinfect all incoming items, scan them into a quarantine shelf, while wearing gloves, and let them sit for seven days. We did this for one week.

On Tuesday, March 17^th at 4:00 p.m., Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference announcing the two week closure of all state offices beginning Saturday the 21^st.

COVID-19 and the New Mexico Library for the Blind & Print Disabled

Details: Category: Key Notes; Last Updated: Friday, 15 May 2020 15:57; Published: Tuesday, 05 May 2020 14:15; Written by Sam Lundberg

Our next guest blog post in response to this request is from Sam Lundberg, Reader Advisor, New Mexico State Library, Library for the Blind & Print Disabled.

COVID-19 and the New Mexico Library for the Blind & Print Disabled

In large part because of our small size and flexible staff, the New Mexico LBPD has been able to stay open and continue service to all ~2,600 of our patrons. Of our 7 staff members, 5 are working from home and 2 are coming into the office daily, but never at the same time. One staffer handles all of our physical delivery, along with outgoing and incoming mail each morning. Meanwhile, the other staffer handles all DoD and equipment orders each afternoon. All of our RA work is done remotely, with our phones going directly to voicemail which we check repeatedly over the course of the day.

Key Notes Blog

COVID-19 and the Arizona Talking Book Library & Instructional Resource Center

COVID-19 and TN RCVI

TN RCVI COVID-19 Plan Implementation

COVID-19 and the California Department of Education Press

COVID-19 and the State Library of Kansas, Talking Books Service

March 16 – March 20: The Scramble

COVID-19 and the New Mexico Library for the Blind & Print Disabled

COVID-19 and the New Mexico Library for the Blind & Print Disabled

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