New Director AppointedOn October 23, 2008, the Iowa Commission for the Blind appointed Karen A. Keninger to serve as the Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind. Ms. Keninger is currently the Program Administrator for the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, a position she has held since 2000. As Program Administrator for the Library, Ms. Keninger has spearheaded the Library's conversion of talking books to digital media, created a recording studio that provides audio books to individuals who are unable to read standard print because of a disability, and has actively promoted the importance of Braille literacy. Ms. Keninger participated in an interagency effort by the Iowa Board of Regents, State Department of Education, the Iowa Braille School, Area Education Agencies, and the Department to coordinate statewide vision services to blind and visually impaired children in Iowa. Ms. Keninger has served on planning committees for the Library of Congress' National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). She began working for the Department in 1995 as a Rehabilitation Consultant in the Field Operations unit. She oversaw state and federal reporting requirements, studied social security issues, and secured federal funding for a national computer training program for blind and visually impaired individuals. Ms. Keninger is a life-long resident of Iowa and is a graduate of Drake University (B.A) and Iowa State University (M.A.).
Ms. Keninger succeeds Mr. Allen Harris, who retired from the Department after seven years of service. Mr. Harris praises Ms. Keninger as someone who, "is truly a leader, a very quick study and is committed to the Department philosophy, and she will continue to move the agency forward." Ms. Keninger will assume her duties on November 1, 2008.
Cedar Rapids
Residents First to Test New Digital Reading TechnologyDES MOINES, IOWA - (May 7, 2009) Ten Cedar Rapids area residents, who are part of the Linn County Blindness and Low Vision Support Group, were the first Iowans to receive the Digital Talking Book (DTB) players at a meeting at 16th Avenue Grill on Wednesday. The Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, located at the Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) in Des Moines, is one of only eight libraries selected to pilot a program to test DTB players which were produced by the Library of Congress for its National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Field testing of the players will continue through July with 544 Iowans receiving the DTB players.
"It's an honor for Iowa to be selected for the pilot program, as a test site for the final version of Digital Talking Books. The digital format is a real benefit for everyone from school-age readers who need to read chapters 5 through 8 in school book texts to leisure readers who want to fall asleep listening to a New York Times bestseller." said Tracey Morsek, director of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. "Readers with visual disabilities can locate information effortlessly with the DTB players. Iowa's collection of more than 70,000 audiocassette titles has served us well, but the new digital format brings improved audio quality and is easier to use for our patrons. Once testing is completed, the DTB players will be made available nationwide."
The DTB players feature digital audio files stored on a specially designed flash memory card encased in a special plastic casing that is easy to grip and shaped similar to a cassette. The specially designed flash memory card can only be used in players developed by the National Library Service.
"The Digital Talking Book player is so easy to use. It's so nice to have the whole book on one cartridge. Before, with the audiocassette, I would have to flip the cassettes or even use multiple cassettes for one book. I also love the sound quality - it really brings the book to life," said Cedar Rapids native Shirley Wiggins who has been blind since birth and has been using the Library services for over 60 years and was issued one of the first DTB players.
Since 1959, the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has participated in a national network of libraries that circulate books produced in special formats to readers who are unable to use standard print books. In 2008, the Library circulated nearly 250,000 books in Braille, audiocassette and large print. However, digital recordings were not available until yesterday.
The Library loans materials to readers who are unable to use standard print due to a visual, physical or reading disability. "Our readers come from all walks of life," said Morsek. "Many seniors with failing vision or physical conditions that make it difficult to turn the pages of a book are eligible for our service. Likewise, individuals with dyslexia or aphasia can borrow materials from our library. Even people with ink allergies can enjoy reading with the help of talking books."
The Iowa Department for the Blind, with offices in Des Moines, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids and with field staff statewide helps educate, train and empower blind and visually impaired Iowans to pursue life-long goals. For more information about the Iowa Department for the Blind or the Library call (800) 362-2587 or log-on to www.blind.state.ia.us.
