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Special Needs Lending Library in Holmes County

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by Holmes County District Public Library Director Arlene Radden, and Claudia Zimmerman,  Head of the Extension Services (retired August 31, 2009)
 
The Holmes County Training Center’s Special Needs Lending Library is a joint project between the Holmes County District Public Library and the Holmes County Training Center. After many months of working with a committee at the Training Center, it was decided that the library would collaborate on an LSTA Grant for the 2007 funding period. The State Library of Ohio awarded an Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant in the amount of $23,200 in April 2007. In addition, about $7,000 of local match was to be added to the award amount. It is a one of a kind facility among training centers for the children and adults with disabilities in Ohio. It was a project that has exceeded expectations from both the Holmes County Library and Training Center staff.
 
The Holmes County Library provided cataloging, access to the SEO Consortium, delivery by US Cargo, mesh bags for kits, thermal printer paper, printer paper, 247 OCLC Cat Express records, web design, and an Envisionware OneStop Self Check Software license.
 
The Training Center provided computer hardware, work stations, purchase of adaptive toys ($10,299 of grant and match), and a reference/parent teacher collection ($7,000 of the grant and match). The toys and reference materials were in addition to materials remaining after their existing, un-catalogued collection was weeded and mended. In addition, cabinets and containers for the toys were purchased and shelving, chairs, and a library table were donated by Wayne County Public Library from items not moved to their new location. The maintenance staff at the training center installed the shelving and painted the walls. At the August 23, 2007 Training Center Board meeting, the ribbon was cut and the Special Needs Library opened for business during the school’s hours.
 
The library continues to focus on providing parent/teacher resources on developmental disabilities; adaptive toys geared toward the developmental education of children and adults with disabilities; everyday toys used to develop skills such as gross and fine motor, language, learning and adaptive skills; audio-visual training materials for parents and professionals; children’s picture books; and a computer workstation for access to SEO’s catalog and the Internet for topics related to developmental disabilities. Use of self-checkout and ability to place holds through SEO are key to the library’s success.
 
In addition to teachers, students, and parents, all residents of Holmes County have access to books, toys, kits, and audio-visual materials in the collection by placing holds and having US Cargo deliver the items to the local branch or bookmobile stop. Any patron in the SEO consortium has access to the parent/teacher collection by placing holds. Larger, more fragile items are not sent out of the county because they are difficult to package for US Cargo.
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Pat Heller is the part-time library assistant at the Holmes County Training Center and can be reached by calling 330-674-8045.