July 17, 2024 Library of Congress Honors Libraries in Maryland and Michigan for Outstanding Service to Readers with Disabilities

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at the Library of Congress today recognized two of its cooperating libraries in Maryland and Michigan for their outstanding service to readers with visual, physical or print disabilities.

The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled in Baltimore received the 2024 Regional Library of the Year Award, while the Larry Gorton Talking Book Library at the Traverse Area District Library in Traverse City, Michigan, received the Sub-regional Library/Advisory and Outreach Center of the Year Award.

Both libraries — among nearly 100 in the National Library Service network of cooperating libraries — were honored today at a luncheon in the historic Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Each also received a monetary award and a commemorative plaque.

“I’m so impressed with the many ways these two libraries ensure that disability stops no one from experiencing the lifelong joy of reading. They also establish a sense of community among their patrons by sponsoring events that are educational, creative and just plain fun,” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said. “These honorees are outstanding examples of the service that the National Library Service and its network of libraries provide to hundreds of thousands of people all across the country.”

The Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, under the leadership of John Owen, serves more than 7,000 patrons throughout Maryland and circulated 398,000 items in print and digital formats last year. Its recording studio has produced more than 300 books of regional interest that met National Library Service standards to be added to BARD, the Braille and Audio Reading Download website.

To help preserve the state’s literary heritage, the library has digitized more than 150 audiobooks about Maryland or by Maryland authors. The library also oversees the Maryland Accessible Textbook Program and produced 1,319 textbook chapters in audio, large print and other formats for 114 Maryland college students in 2023. Last year, more than a thousand patrons attended over 370 programs, events and assistive technology classes sponsored by the library and, prompted by a patron, the library started a tactile art club.

The Larry Gorton Talking Book Library is housed at the Traverse Area District Library. Led by Anita Chouinard, the library serves around 400 patrons in eight counties in northern Michigan. Last year, the library offered 120 programs, some in collaboration with the Traverse Area District Library, that drew a total of 2,765 people. A monthly book club and a chair yoga program are especially popular with patrons.

In addition to providing reader advisory services and technical assistance with National Library Service equipment, the Larry Gorton Talking Book Library has a robust community outreach program. Chouinard visits 11 senior living facilities each month with the library’s Bookmobile. She attended two senior expos last year and promoted the library’s services during the Traverse Area District Library’s Summer Reading Club.

Created 93 years ago, the National Library Service launched the Network Library Awards in 2004. A committee of librarians and consumer-organization representatives chooses the winners from nominated libraries, based on mission support, creativity and innovation in providing service and demonstrated reader satisfaction.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled administers the talking-book and braille program, a free library service available to U.S. residents and American citizens living abroad whose low vision, blindness or print disability makes reading regular printed material difficult. Through its national network of libraries, the National Library Service provides books and magazines in audio and braille formats and playback equipment directly to patrons at no cost. Materials are also available online for download and are accessible on smart devices through the BARD Mobile app. Music instructional materials are available in large-print, ebraille, braille and recorded formats. For more information, visit loc.gov/nls or call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323).

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.